Hello and welcome to Talk Asia, a special edition coming to you from Beijing.

CNN: Jack Ma Talkasia Transcript

So when she said yes to Talk Asia with pretty much all the access we wanted, we were only too happy to work around her.

CNN: In the Field

Anjali Rao every weekend for CNN's half-hour chat show Talk Asia to explore the personalities behind the newsmakers in the fields of arts, politics, sports and business.

CNN: Syndication Services

After our 3.30 a.m. finish, the ensuing daylight hours started with a couple of eye drops but pretty soon, the intrepid Talk Asia team was dashing off to our next interview with Bollywood hot shot director and chat show host, Karan Johar.

CNN: In the Field

Welcome back to Talk Asia.

CNN: Jack Ma Talkasia Transcript

As she folded herself into a chair for the Talk Asia interview, the entourage settled in the background -- some blending in with the grand designs of the exhibition, others, like Carlo, a small, bald man wearing dark glasses, providing more of a contrast.

CNN: The world according to Vivienne Westwood

All the talk in Asia is about whether electronics and high-tech exports will recover in 2002.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Mr. President, you're here of course to talk about Asia, but much of the world's attention and yours is also being diverted back to the Middle East now and the situation in Gaza.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

The few smart economists I talk to fear Southeast Asia's misery spreads to us, but I am a disbeliever.

FORBES: The "Orange Marilyn" and the market

And right now, Asia is just talk.

FORBES: Plugging in a Global Exchange

Moreover, the economic troubles in Asia that prompted the talk of deflation may start to work in favour of bank shares.

ECONOMIST: American banks: The January effect | The

For all the talk of synergies in fast-growing Asia, the plum morsel that ChevronTexaco (nyse: CVX - news - people ) will get from this Unocal (nyse: UCL - news - people ) deal is in Azerbaijan.

FORBES: It's All About Azerbaijan

King, who admits she struggles with technology, said that she prefers face to face interaction but she appreciates the fact that Skype lets her talk to her son who is living in Asia.

FORBES: Disney Gets That Kids Want To Curl Up With Their TV

Bush said he is dispatching high-level delegations -- composed of officials from the State and Defense departments and the National Security Council -- to Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada to talk about building a new missile defense strategy.

CNN: Bush suggests junking missile treaty with Russia

But Asia appears prominently on the map when we talk about innovation.

FORBES: Success in Asia, When Innovation Isn't Enough

One is, last year on the Asia trip, there was a lot of talk about the U.S. engaging more in the region and some actions on that trip.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

"The first day I went to office, it became the talk of our town, " recalls Vidya, 65, speaking to FORBES ASIA at Renuka's modest headquarters in Belgaum.

FORBES: Magazine Article