Regional integration en route

East Asia undoubtedly plays a crucial role in today's world order, whether its effect is positive or negative. But no other place parallels East Asia, which is simultaneously a complexity of profound contradictions and the most promising prospects. In this context, it has become a hot spot of deep concern and intense attention worldwide.

From the perspective of economic integration, East Asia includes both Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, which further exacerbates the connotation of discord in the region. A variety of factors from; differences in social institutions among countries; contention between followers of Islam, Confucianism and the emerging sects of Christianity make the situation complicated.

The Korean Peninsula issue, a relic of World War II; the cross-Straits relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan; the South China Sea disputes fueled by intense competition for seabed resources; and the shadow of nation-state conflicts often shroud the dreams of peace and prosperity of the region's people.