Development bank will help fight poverty

The BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are expected to pursue a development bank during a summit in Brazil next week. This is in addition to the idea of an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank that is being mooted by countries in the region.

Abbott is clearly shortsighted

JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE'S FOUR-DAY visit to Australia this week, ending on Thursday, has culminated in political drama thanks to his host.

Sowing seeds of danger

The Japanese military attacked Darwin, Australia, in dozens of air raids following its sneak attack against Pearl Harbor during World War II, and some 17,000 Australians died in the fight against Japan.

China's foreign aid helps developing countries

China's Information Office of the State Council issued a white paper on China's foreign aid on Thursday. Following is the full text:

Dispelling distrust across the Pacific

S&ED will boost economic collaboration, but China and the US should also strive for results from their talks on strategic issues

Cartoon

Abe's normal state is simply abnormal

There are many in the West, and indeed in Japan, who do not understand why the past cannot be buried and why Japan's wartime aggression is held against it.

Dedicated to new relationship

PRESIDENT XI JINPING'S PRESENCE AT THE CHINA-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and his emphasis on the new type of major-country relationship were symbolic of the strong political will of Beijing; something particularly important now that recent troubles have raised doubts about the prospects of this particular relationship.

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