Balanced investment treaty needed

Although trade friction between China and the United States over everything from cars to solar panels has increased in recent years, the bilateral trade in goods reached a record $521 billion in 2013, which suggests increasing interdependence between the two economies.

Abe should open his eyes to reality

It was really a clumsy decision for Australia to move toward a de-facto military alliance with Japan after the latter violated its pacifist constitution. The US and its allies should learn from World War II, or else their wrong decisions will eventually hurt themselves.

Let them dance to the right tune

I know summer is coming to New York when I start seeing groups of people, both women and men, practicing folk dance in Central Park or in other open spaces in the city. I am always amazed by their enthusiasm, because although many among them are not young, they put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into this activity.

Letters

Brainstorming on BRICS bank

From the Chinese press

Chinese elements misused

Heart-to-heart for healthy ties

Sixth Strategic and Economic Dialogue can guide China and US' new model of relations between major countries back on track

Cartoon

Local boosts for properties can backfire

A number of local governments are planning to lift restrictions previously imposed on the purchase of properties. While the move will provide a much-needed boost to the market, it is hard to improve the fundamentals of the sector.

Dialogue to disperse suspicions

SUSPENDED TALKS ON CYBERSECURITY, FREQUENT exchanges of allegations over approaches to disputes and regional security...the recent divergences between Beijing and Washington run so deep and broad that mutual suspicions about purposes and intentions dominate any discussion about their uneasy relationship. Hence, the atmosphere seems less than conducive for the sixth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Prognosis for win-win progress

The coming round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue can reopen a channel for the two parties to reflect upon and work through the sensitive issues in their relations, and it is important the two sides grasp the chance to enhance mutual trust and reduce misunderstanding, and tackle their disagreements in a constructive manner.

Beware of Japan's evil designs

The volatile political situation in Europe (and partly in West Asia) led to the Great War 100 years ago, with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany (or the Central Forces) on one side and Britain, France and Russia (or the Allies) on the other. What started essentially as a "European war" soon turned into a world war with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joining the Central Forces and Italy, the United States and Japan joining the Allies.

Merkel visit focuses on economy, not human rights

German media have termed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to China more as a "business trip" and exercised restraint while reporting on thorny issues such as the differences on human rights between Beijing and Berlin.