Much of the world’s fortunes revolves not around US-China trade but US-China relations as a whole, where problems require more time and effort to resolve.

The popular mandate based on legitimate elections must be recognised and respected, whatever the result and whoever the winner or loser, and even regardless of the system.

NOW that the quartet of Asean-related summits is over for the year, so should the niggling criticisms. At least they should – more important matters are at hand.

What some see as obstacles to the Belt and Road Initiative may only be operational challenges along the route as the massive project finally begins to take shape.

US-China relations are of great concern to much of the world, particularly this region, whether or not Washington and Beijing seem to realise it.

Despite multiple setbacks, Thais generally remain hopeful that Malaysia’s renewed effort to facilitate peace talks for their southernmost provinces can still succeed.

Close relations between China and Russia as a result of clueless US policies may not be new, except that bilateral ties are now peaking like never before.

The mass killings and persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya population continue unabated, with more shameful actions by shameless people in high positions.

After years of unqualified success, Beijing may have met its match in Donald Trump’s trade war – weakening China’s aspirations on other fronts, including its signature Belt and Road ambitions.

Summits are often dismissed as mere talk shops, but they can also be significant events that create opportunities for a safer and better world.

AS an indication of how out of touch some international pundits of Asia are, they still call North-East Asia (China, Japan and Korea) “East Asia.”

The international marketplace can be an unforgiving arena, if the hard economic realities of global markets are replaced by sentimentality or nostalgia.