Our Insights
Featured Insights Selected by Our Experts
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Nature as National Asset: How the Middle East Is Turning Biodiversity into Economic Opportunity
By Basilinna Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO.
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Trump 2.0
Tholos Talks with The Trade Guys, Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
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China Economic Stimulus Tracker
A comprehensive timeline of announcements and policy actions implemented by the Chinese government to stimulate economic activity.
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When Mistakes Need a Manual: China’s Guidance on Acceptable Decision-making
By Deborah Lehr, Basilinna Chair and CEO
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Silicon and Sovereignty: What Trump’s AI Pact Means for the Gulf
Talking Points by the Basilinna Team
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Why Do Culture and Heritage Matter? with Irina Bokova
Tholos Talks with Irina Bokova, Hosted by Deborah Lehr
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Is Xi Jinping Undermining China’s Path to Tech Superiority?
By Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
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Making Acquisitions in the Public Affairs Sector: Lessons from Both Sides of the Table
By Leigh Wedell, President and COO
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Trade is No Longer a Way of Opening Up Markets
With Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
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From the Middle Kingdom to the Saudi Kingdom: Opportunities Abound
By Yasser Elnaggar, Chair of the Middle East and Africa
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The New Trump Administration: Perspective from China
Talking Points by Gracie Sun, Chair of Asia-Pacific
Explore all of our Insights, Interviews, Commentary, and More
What Is The Promise of AI?
August 18, 2025 | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings, Chair of Technology and Trade
In episode six of our Tholos Talks series that unpacks the defining economic challenges of the 21st century — Coffee, Trade, and Tech — Jake is joined by Kendra Schaefer, Partner and Head of Tech Policy Research at Trivium China, and Basilinna Senior Fellow for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of AI, digital trade policy, and China’s position in the global tech race.
China’s Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage Signals Its Global Ambition
August 14, 2025 | Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
China is making its cultural heritage protection a national priority – and a pillar of its global identity. As one of the world’s fastest-growing art markets, China has taken steps in recent years to better safeguard its cultural heritage, both at home and abroad.
Recovery Yet Cautious: China’s IPO Path in 2025
July 23, 2025 | Ruihan Huang, Director
China’s IPO market is showing early signs of recovery after a sharp regulatory-driven slowdown in 2024. While listing activity has picked up in 2025, the era of high-volume IPOs is unlikely to return, as financial regulators shift focus from rapid expansion to long-term value creation.
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Hedging: Navigating Multipolarity through Quiet Power
July 22, 2025 | Basilinna Team
Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has transitioned from an overzealous regional actor, engaging in armed conflicts and backing belligerent factions, toward a more measured and mature foreign policy posture. It now leverages its vast resources and the momentum of Vision 2030 to position itself as a key player on both the regional and global stage. Its leadership role in OPEC and OPEC+ has reinforced this emerging identity.
Bridging the Biodiversity Finance Gap: Green Finance as a Catalyst for Global Sustainable Development
June 18, 2025 | Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
The global community stands at a critical juncture where the loss of biodiversity is not only an environmental concern but a profound economic and developmental challenge. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem services that are vital for human survival, including food security, disease regulation, and climate stability.
From Picnic Nuisance to Ecological Champion: It’s Time We Value Pollinators
June 12, 2025 | Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
June is National Pollinators Month, a timely reminder that the birds, bees, bats, and butterflies we often overlook—or even fear—are actually among the most critical workers in our global ecosystem. These pollinators are more than fleeting visitors to summer picnics or creatures we instinctively shoo away.
Digital Sovereignty and the New Trade Order
June 12, 2025 | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings, Chair of Technology and Trade
In episode five of our Tholos Talks series that unpacks the defining economic challenges of the 21st century — Coffee, Trade, and Tech — Jake welcomes Sabina Ciofu, Associate Director - International at techUK, to discuss the evolving landscape of digital trade policy.
When Mistakes Need a Manual: China’s Guidance on Acceptable Decision-making
June 9, 2025 | Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
In China, a nation known for five-year plans and centrally choreographed actions, it turns out that what’s really hard to plan for is fear of action. In the last year, Chinese authorities quietly released what can be described as guidance for “getting things wrong the right way” – policy guidelines outlining which mistakes by government officials are permissible and which are not.
Rising Opportunities for Business: Key Takeaways from the 11th China-Arab Business Conference
June 3, 2025 | Basilinna Team
The 11th China-Arab Business Conference and 9th Investment Seminar of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum took place in Haikou, Hainan, from April 27–30, 2025, drawing over 1,000 political and business leaders from China and Arab countries.
Silicon and Sovereignty: What Trump’s AI Pact Means for the Gulf
May 30, 2025 | Basilinna Team
President Donald Trump’s recent four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates highlighted a growing shift in U.S. foreign policy, one that prioritizes technology and artificial intelligence as key levers of influence in the Middle East.