Summits will uphold Asian consensus

In a stark contrast with the unilateralism and protectionism of some developed countries - notably the United States whose unruly behavior has harmed not only the global economy but also international relations - the principles of multilateralism, equality and inclusiveness are the consensus of countries in Asia.

Which explains why both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia have developed to be important regional platforms, as both seek to uphold and promote these principles.

And since meetings of like-minded leaders tend to be both amiable and productive, that explains why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs struck a positive note in its briefing on President Xi Jinping's visit to Central Asia from Wednesday to Saturday, during which he will pay state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and attend the 19th summit of the SCO in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek and the fifth summit of the CICA that is being held in the Tajikistan capital Dushanbe.