Informal Talks

Informal Talks (simplified Chinese: 非正式会谈; traditional Chinese: 非正式會談; pinyin: Fēi Zhèngshì Huìtán) is a Chinese talk show co-produced by Bilibili and Hubei Television.^[1] Informal Talks airs on Hubei Television and Heilongjiang Television on Fridays at 21:20 beginning April 24, 2015.

Informal Talks
Genre	talk-variety show
Directed by	Chen Juan, Wan Longhua, Wang Ziting, Gu Xueying, Zhang Longfu, Ma Xiao
Starring	Da Zuo, Yang Di, Chen Ming, Chen Chao, Brian Gonzalez, Dylan Jaye, Sasha Chzhao, Idris Kartav, Steven Oo, Ichinose Asuka, Ben McMahon, Alex Martini, Kyle Obermann
Opening theme	Season 1 Sugar by Maroon 5 We Like 2 Party by Big Bang What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction Season 2 Shadowfall by Audiomachine Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon Season 3 Blood and Wine by Marcin Przybyłowicz New York Memories by Borislav Slavov Les Champs-Élysées by Joe Dassin Sunny Day by Joy Williams Legacy of Six by Really Slow Motion Season 5 Pay It Later by Joshua Francois & Franco Junior Wake Me Up (cover) by Madilyn Bailey Season 6 Walk Thru Fire by Vicetone (ft. Meron Ryan)
Country of origin	China
Original language	Chinese
No. of seasons	6
Production
Production location	China
Running time	80 minutes
Original release
Network	Hubei Television
Release	April 24, 2015 (2015-04-24) – present

Starting Season 1 Episode 5, every episode begins with a Culture Discussion (Chinese: 全球文化相对论; pinyin: Quánqiú Wénhuà Xiāngduìlùn), followed by debates related to the discussion topic (Chinese: 提案环节; pinyin: Tíàn Huánjié), where representatives can share their opinions. The show discusses various topics and issues in Mandarin. The atmosphere is meant to emulate a meeting of world leaders, but the tone of the show can range from serious to emotional to humorous.

Series overview

In Season 1, there were 20 regular episodes, and 3 special episodes (Episode 17, 18, 23). In Season 2, there were 46 regular episodes and 3 special episodes that look back at certain moments on the show. Season 6 consisted of 8 episodes filmed in the studio in Beijing, and 16 episodes filmed remotely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.^[2]

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	23	20	April 24, 2015 (2015-04-24)	October 2, 2015 (2015-10-02)
		3	August 21, 2015 (2015-08-21)	October 2, 2015 (2015-10-02)
2	50	46	December 11, 2015 (2015-12-11)	November 11, 2016 (2016-11-11)
		4	November 18, 2015 (2015-11-18)	December 2, 2016 (2016-12-02)
3	61	59	December 9, 2016 (2016-12-09)	April 27, 2018 (2018-04-27)
		2	November 3, 2017 (2017-11-03)	December 1, 2017 (2017-12-01)
4	12		June 29, 2018 (2018-06-29)	September 14, 2018 (2018-09-14)
5	12		May 17, 2019 (2019-05-17)	August 2, 2019 (2019-08-02)
6	24		January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17)	August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)

Hosts

The panel consists of a "President" (Chinese: 会长; pinyin: Huìzhǎng), a "Vice President" (Chinese: 副会长; pinyin: Fù Huìzhǎng), a “Secretary General" (Chinese: 秘书长; pinyin: Mìshūzhǎng), a "Clerk" (Chinese: 书记官; pinyin: Shūjì guān) and "representatives" from different countries.

Current Hosts

Name	Chinese Name	Birthday	Title	Episodes	Absences
Da Zuo (Ryan)	大左	(1985-07-29) July 29, 1985 (age 39)	President	S1 E5 - present	S3 E56, 57
Yang Di (Andy)	杨迪	(1986-08-26) August 26, 1986 (age 38)	Vice President	S2 E1 - present
			Clerk	S1 E5 - E23	S1 E10, 11
Chen Ming (Calvin)	陈铭	(1988-04-07) April 7, 1988 (age 37)	Secretary General	S2 E22 - 25, 32 - 39, 44 - 47 S3 E1 - present	S3 E33 S5 E5-9, 12
Chen Chao (Cynthia)	陈超	(1989-10-24) October 24, 1989 (age 35)	Clerk	S1 E1 - present	S2 E38, 39 S3 E13 - 16 S5 E7, 8

Past Substitute Hosts

Name	Chinese Name	Birthday	Title	Episodes
Liu Yiwei	刘仪伟	(1969-04-28) April 28, 1969 (age 56)	President	S1 E1 - E4
Yuan Chengjie	袁成杰	(1983-03-10) March 10, 1983 (age 42)	Vice President	S1 E1 - E4
Ma Weiwei (Vivian)	马薇薇		Vice President	S1 E5 - E23
			Secretary General	S1 E1 - S1 E4
Huang Yixin	黄艺馨	(1982-11-16) November 16, 1982 (age 42)	Clerk	S1 E10, 11
Li Yitong	李艺彤	(1995-12-23) December 23, 1995 (age 29)	Secretary General	S2 E1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10
Chen Si	陈思	(1991-09-14) September 14, 1991 (age 33)	Secretary General	S2 E4, 7
Yu Shasha	于莎莎	(1985-05-30) May 30, 1985 (age 39)	Secretary General	S2 E6, 8, 11, 12, 17 - 20, 31
Xie Binbin	谢彬彬	(1995-12-20) December 20, 1995 (age 29)	Secretary General	S2 E13, 14
Shao Mingming	邵明明	(1996-10-25) October 25, 1996 (age 28)	Secretary General	S2 E15, 16
Jiang Chen (Joanna)	姜尘	(1987-11-27) November 27, 1987 (age 37)	Secretary General	S2 E26 - 30
Liu Xiye	刘熙烨		Clerk	S2 E38, 39
Jiang Tao	江涛		Secretary General	S2 E40, 43
Zang Hongna	臧洪娜	June 28	Secretary General	S2 E41, 42
Zhang Yu'an	张玉安		Secretary General	S3 E33
Li Songwei	李松蔚		Secretary General	S5 E7-9

Representatives

In Season 1, there were 10 representatives of Informal Talks (known as IT10): Brian Gonzalez, Beijing International Studies University international business student; Arash Estilaf, actor and PhD Film Studies student; YOYO, model; Giuseppe Mighali, Suhrobjon Nazarov, Renmin University of China student; Alexandre Dubos, founder of French-Street (wine company);^[3] Nathaus Patrick, Audi executive;^[4] Kim Han-il (Jack), singer; Zack Ireland Splittgerber, actor and Mohammed Osama, Xinhua News Agency journalist.^[5] After Episode 4, Giuseppe Mighali left due to work related reasons and was replaced by Alec Odahara, marketing manager, in Episode 5. After Episode 15, Suhrobjon Nazarov left to serve in the Russian Army and was replaced by Vladislav Shergin in Episode 17. At the end of Season 1, Alexandre Dubos and Nathaus Patrick left due to work related reasons.

In Season 2, there were 11 representatives (IT11). Alistair Bayley, Monash University arts student; James Ifeanyi Ogbobe, tourism management student and kindergarten teacher; and Steven Oo, fashion designer joined the cast. At the end of Season 2, Steven Oo left due to work related reasons. Mohammed Osama, Zach Ireland Splittgerber, and Vladislav Shergin announced on Weibo that they were informed by the producers of Informal Talks they would not continue to be representatives in Season 3. Kim Han-il (Jack) left for unknown reasons.

In Season 3, Cedric Jun Jie Loo (guest representative in Season 2 Episode 13), actor and model; Mirco Tranchina, Beijing Normal University Linguistics student; Sasha, Harbin Engineering University international business student; Idris Kartav, Xiamen University International Relations and Affairs student and Dominic Romeo joined the cast. After Season 3, Mirco left due to immigration difficulties, and Alec and James left due to work. In Season 3.5, they were replaced with Dylan Jaye, an investment banker; Brian O'Shea and Patrick Köllmer.

Current Representatives

Country	Name	Chinese name	Occupation	Birthday	Since	Absences
Argentina  Spain	Brian Alejandro Gonzalez Ruiz[6]	功必扬	BISU International Business student	(1991-04-13) April 13, 1991 (age 34)[7]	S1 E1	S4 E8
Russia	Aleksandr "Sasha" Chzhao[8]	萨沙[9]	HRBEU International Business student	(1998-09-29) September 29, 1998 (age 26)[10]	S3 E1	S3 E5, 6, 46 S4 E5-8 S5 E4
Italy	Alessandro Martini	阿雷	Student	(1996-06-19) June 19, 1996 (age 28)	S6 E1
United Kingdom	Harry Moore[11]	欧阳森			S6.5
South Africa	Brett Lyndall Singh	阿乐	Medical Technology Entrepreneur		S6 E9	S6, E12 - 13
United States	Zach Bielak[12]	小白/姜海			S6.5
Norway	Gustav Gillund[13]	顾思达			S6.5
Japan	Takeuchi Ryo	竹内亮			S6.5
Cameroon	Challi	沙力			S6.5
Myanmar	Steven Oo (Than Naing Oo)	赖合成 OO	Fashion Designer	(1984-11-10) November 10, 1984 (age 40)	S2 E1-E47 S6 E1	S2 E36, 44 - 47

Past Representatives

Season 2 Cast - Vlad Shergin, Mohammed Osama, James Ogbobe, Jack Kim, Alec Odahara, Brian Gonzalez, Alistair Bayley, Yūsuke Asai, Arash Estilaf, Steven Oo, Zach Ireland

Country	Name	Chinese name	Occupation	Birthday	Episodes	Absences	Returns
Italy	Giuseppe Mighali[14]	朱赛	Researcher in Chinese Classical Philology		S1 E1 - 4[15]
Russia  Tajikistan	Suhrobjon Nazarov[16]	阿克毛	Student	(1993-11-20) November 20, 1993 (age 31)[17]	S1 E1 - 15[18]	S1 E14	S3 E5, 6, 25
France	Alexandre Dubos[19]	杜波		1986[20]	S1 E1 - 23[21]		S2 E15, 16 S4 E8
Germany	Nathaus Patrick[22]	潘天楷	Audi Executive		S1 E1 - 23[21]	S1 E5 - 7, 9 - 12	S2 E4, 6 - 8, 33, 34 S3 E15, 16
South Korea	Jack Kim (Kim Han-il)[23] †	金韩一	Singer	(1990-06-04)June 4, 1990[citation needed]	S1 E1 - S2 E47	S2 E25, 41 - 47
United States	Zach Mark Ireland Splittgerber[24]	左右		(1990-02-13) February 13, 1990 (age 35)[25]	S1 E1 - S2 E47[26]	S2 E2, 4, 6 - 8
Egypt	Mohamed Osama Mohamed Ragab[27]	穆小龙	Translator	(1988-09-06) September 6, 1988 (age 36)[28]	S1 E1 - S2 E47[29]		S3 E18 - 22, 25 S4 E5
Russia	Vladislav Aleksandrovich Shergin[24]	卷弗/弗拉德		(1990-10-15) October 15, 1990 (age 34)[30]	S1 E17 - S2 E47[31]		S4 E6
United Kingdom  Australia	Alexander "Alec" Guy Odahara[24]	田原皓	Marketing manager IT Analyst	(1990-02-09) February 9, 1990 (age 35)[32]	S1 E5 - S3 E40	S2 E27 - 30 S3 E28, 34 - 40
Nigeria	James Ifeanyi Ogbobe[33]	钱多多	Tourism Management student	1988	S2 E1 - S3 E40	S2 E35
Italy	Mirco Tranchina[34]	米可	BNU Linguistics student	(1991-06-26) June 26, 1991 (age 33)[35]	S3 E1 - 40	S3 E13, 14, 18 19, 28 - 30, 34, 37 - 40	S5 E9, 10
Japan	Yūsuke Asai	浅井悠佑 YOYO[36]	Model	(1985-09-15) September 15, 1985 (age 39)[37]	S1 E1 - S3 E61	S2 E36 - 43 S3 E25
Malaysia	Cedric Jun Jie Loo[38]	吕锐 吕俊杰	Model, actor	1988	S3 E1 - 61
Italy  Argentina	Brian O'Shea	波波		(1993-04-10) April 10, 1993 (age 32)	S3 E41 - 61
Germany	Patrick Köllmer	吴雨翔		(1988-09-16) September 16, 1988 (age 36)	S3 E41 - 61	S3 E46
France	Wilfried Buiron [39]	阮奕信	Student, Entrepreneur	(1995-09-02) September 2, 1995 (age 29)[40]	S4 E1 - 12		S5 E6
Iran	Arash Estilaf[41][42]	华波波	Actor, Film Studies student	(1988-08-28) August 28, 1988 (age 36)[43]	S1 E1 - S5 E12	S4 E8 (start)
Australia  United Kingdom	Alistair Bayley[44]	贝乐泰	Monash Arts student	(1993-05-26) May 26, 1993 (age 32)[45]	S2 E1 - S5 E12	S2 E2, 32 - 35, 45, 46 S3 E29, 30
United States	Dominic Joseph Romeo[46]	罗狮杰	Student	1992	S3 E1 - S5 E12	S4 E1 (end), 2
United Kingdom	Russell	成明	Student		S5 E1 - S5 E12	S5 E4, 9, 10
United States  Italy	Dylan Jaye[47]	钟逸伦	Investment Banker Musician	(1995-10-22) October 22, 1995 (age 29)	S3 E41	S4 E9, 10
South Africa	Mark Minnie Jr.[48]	宁大人	Student	(1994-05-09) May 9, 1994 (age 31)[49]	S4 E1
India  Thailand	Siwathep Singh Khanderpor[50]	天乐	Student	(1993-06-04) June 4, 1993 (age 31)[51]	S4 E1	S5 E5, 6
Japan	Ichinose Asuka	一之瀬飞鸟	Video blogger	1995	S4 E1
United States	Kyle Obermann	欧阳凯	Photographer		S6 E1
Australia	Ben McMahon	孟杰明	Real Estate Developer		S6 E1
Turkey	Idris Talha Kartav[52][53] †	唐小强[10]	Stone Importer	(1992-08-24)August 24, 1992[54]	S3 E1		S3 E18 - 22 S4 E5-8

Guest Representatives

Country	Name	Chinese name	Birthday	Episodes
Brazil	Kevin Tai[55]	戴启明	1992 - 1993[56]	S1 E1 (cut from episode), E14
Spain	Antonio Coll (Nio)[57]	蓝子龙	(1989-03-11) March 11, 1989 (age 36)[58]	S1 E3, 16
Ukraine	Yegor Shyshov[citation needed]	椰果	(1989-05-22) May 22, 1989 (age 36)[59]	S1 E5
Canada	Brendan Frentz[60]	范柏仁		S1 E6
Australia		小白		S1 E10
United States	Martin	马丁	1986 - 1987[61]	S1 E10
United States		龙小龙	2001[62]	S1 E11
New Zealand	Patrick Rosevear[63]	罗斯文	(1987-06-24) June 24, 1987 (age 37)[64]	S1 E14, 21
Spain	David Garcia Lou[65]	搂大卫	October 25[65]	S1 E15
Italy	Anthony[66]	安东尼	(1990-05-09) May 9, 1990 (age 35)[67]	S1 E15, 33
Spain	Gerald [citation needed]	杰拉德		S1 E19
Cameroon	David	大卫		S1 E20
Egypt		周晓龙		S1 E22
India	Mani[citation needed]	马尼	August 22[68]	S2 E2
United States		罗罗		S2 E3
South Africa	Oliver[69]	奥利/赵子玉	August 11[69]	S2 E4, 7, 35
Italy	Andre[citation needed]	安德		S2 E5
Sweden	Markus[70]	张维		S2 E6 S3 E2, 3
United States		李越	(1992-12-30) December 30, 1992 (age 32)	S2 E6, 8, 31
Spain	Isa[citation needed]	伊萨		S2 E8, 31
United States	Paul Craddock[71]	美保/美宝[72]	(1993-10-14) October 14, 1993 (age 31)	S2 E9
Italy	Jacopo Maria Lasala[73]	徐天佑		S2 E10
Germany	Simon Dominic	西蒙		S2 E11, 12
Malaysia	Cedric Jun Jie Loo[38]	吕锐/吕俊杰		S2 E13
Switzerland	Franco Lodovico Maglio[74]	弗朗克		S2 E14
France		方兴为		S2 E17, 18
Thailand	Palang Jakkrawansilp[75]	帕朗		S2 E19
Brazil	Eduardo de Carvalho Rodrigues Filho[76]	栎树		S2 E20
United States	Josh Gordon[77]	戈登		S2 E21, 29, 30, 32, 35 S3 E21, 22
Italy	David	伟鸥	1992[78]	S2 E22
Turkey	Yasin[79]	亚星	(1993-09-28) September 28, 1993 (age 31)[79]	S2 E23
Italy	Mauri[80]	风明睿		S2 E24
United Kingdom	Elliot O'Donnell[81]	董锦程	1993 - 1994[82]	S2 E25
Italy	Riccardo Moratto (Skanda)[83]	韦佳德	(1985-12-04) December 4, 1985 (age 39)[84]	S2 E26
Switzerland	Machi[85]	马喜	(1981-08-15) August 15, 1981 (age 43)[85]	S2 E27
Belgium	Romuald Bronchart[86]	彭望龙	(1989-06-24) June 24, 1989 (age 35)[87]	S2 E28
Russia	Gaudi[citation needed]	高迪		S2 E32
Japan	Nakamura Onishi	中村大西		S2 E36
France	Pascal Bonnisseau[88]	宋博宁	(1981-07-02) July 2, 1981 (age 43)[89]	S2 E36, 37, 41 - 46 S3 E9 - 11, 37 - 40
France	Quentin Albert[90]	信誓蛋蛋 (钢蛋)		S2 E38, 39
France	Romeo Delebecque[91]	信誓蛋蛋 (铁蛋)		S2 E38, 39
Thailand		徐才文		S2 E39
Germany	Constantin[92]	康廷	(1987-01-11) January 11, 1987 (age 38)[92]	S2 E40
Japan	Tsukagoshi Hirotaka	冢越博隆	(1978-04-18) April 18, 1978 (age 47)	S2 E42, 43 S3 E13, 14
France		晓冬		S2 E43
Russia	Andrey[citation needed]	安德烈		S2 E44
Australia		黎昕		S2 E45, 46
Bangladesh	Rashed[93]	瑞江明		S2 E45
Netherlands	Sander Kole[94]	柯桑德	(1994-09-19) September 19, 1994 (age 30)	S2 E46
Uzbekistan	Kamol Munisov	康晓鑫		S3 E23
United Kingdom	Mark	马克		S3 E26
Costa Rica	Rodley	罗德利		S3 E27
Germany	David	江南		S3 E28, 34
Thailand		范桂忠		S3 E28
Thailand		兴川瑞		S3 E29, 30
United States		马爱文		S3 E30
Japan		坂尚		S3 E31
Italy  Argentina	Brian O'Shea[95]	波波	April 10	S3 E34
Brazil	Uyan Tien	田舞阳	(1985-08-01) August 1, 1985 (age 39)	S3 E35, 36
Germany	Patrick Köllmer	吴雨翔	(1988-09-16) September 16, 1988 (age 36)	S3 E37, 38
United States  Italy	Dylan Jaye	钟逸伦	(1995-10-22) October 22, 1995 (age 29)	S3 E39
United Kingdom	Laurence Heyes	何安杰	(1995-01-01) January 1, 1995 (age 30)	S3 E46
United Kingdom		葛金鹰		S3 E49
Israel	Raz Galor	高佑思	(1994-09-28) September 28, 1994 (age 30)	S3 E50, 51 S5 E8
Lebanon	Michael	卡子彤		S3 E53
United States	Lila Kidson[96]	星悦		S3 E54
Somalia		莫哈		S3 E56
Thailand	Phichet Ang	洪健城		S3 E57
Egypt		王力宏		S3 E59
Brazil	Vinicius Batista de Oliveira	欧力	September 17, 1991 (age 27)	S4 E5
Germany		发币		S4 E6
China	Oscar Sun	孙坚	(1983-05-23) May 23, 1983 (age 42)	S4 E7
Venezuela  Spain		文楷		S4 E8
DRC		龙儿		S4 E9
United Kingdom		梁悦信		S4 E10
United States	Stephen Turban	唐文理		S5 E3
Sudan		白石		S5 E4
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Elie Kipanga	苏阳		S5 E5
Poland	Philip	菲利普		S5 E7
Japan	Yamashita Tomohiro	山下智博		S5 E11
Egypt  Palestine		刘正曦		S6 E5
France		广坦	1983 (age 37)	S6 E7
Japan	Erica	林绘梨华		S6 E7
Belgium	Gianni Girolami[97]	杰宁	1988	S6 E8
Malaysia	Joey Chua	蔡卓宜		S6 E9
Malaysia	Yan Rujing	颜如晶		S6 E10

Similar shows

South Korean show

Main article: Non-Summit

Non-Summit is the original show. It is produced by Korean television company JTBC and features handsome Korean-speaking foreign men discussing a wide range of political and social issues.

In 2015, a Non-Summit spin-off aired called Where is My Friend's Home. The show features the cast of Non-Summit and was filmed across 12 different countries.

Turkish franchise

Main article: Elİn Oğlu

In 2014, atv purchased the rights for a Turkish adaptation of Non-Summit, titled Elİn Oğlu, which premiered on 21 March 2015.^[98][99]

Chinese franchises

Main article: A Bright World

In 2015, Jiangsu Television purchased the rights for a Chinese adaptation of Non-Summit, titled A Bright World (世界青年说), which premiered on 16 April 2015.^{[98][99][100]}