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Episode details

World Service,05 Apr 2017,49 mins

Property Buying Frenzy in the City that Doesn't Exist

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On Saturday the Chinese government announced it was building a new city. Today speculators went wild trying to snap up properties in what will be known as Xiongan New Area, sending prices into a similar frenzy. Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese Studies at King's College London, explains China's thirst for property. Also on the programme, another twist in the economic and political saga in South Africa as the country's biggest trades unions turns on President Zuma. The BBC's Lorato Mbele in Johannesburg brings us the latest. Sun-drenched Palm Beach in Florida is America's playground for the rich and famous. But it is set to be the diplomatic centre of the world when China's President Xi meets President Trump at his residence there this week. But what do the locals make of having the most powerful man in the nation, as a neighbour? The BBC's Luis Fajardo reports. Fergus Nicoll will be joined throughout the programme by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Simon Baptist and by Andy Uhler from the Marketplace programme on American Public Media. They are also joined by the BBC's Cindy Sui. (Photo: A traffic jam in Beijing. Authorities hope to ease the burden on the city with a new metropolis 100 km away. Credit: Getty Images)

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