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Asia’s place in a new world order

The world economy has turned the corner, at least for the immediate term. A global economic meltdown has been narrowly averted and major economies are studying how and when to wind down their emergency and other stimulus measures. Some major economies are growing again, with the bigger Asian economies leading the way. However, it is clear in the aftermath of the global financial crisis that a major adjustment to the global economic architecture is underway. Read more

China’s World Order

Davos, which many in Asia consider to be a rich man’s club dominated by “western thinking”, proved the perfect venue last year for Wen Jiabao, China’s premier, to let off steam. After years of being lectured about the virtues of free markets and financial deregulation, Mr Wen turned the table on his hosts, lacerating the west for bringing the world to the brink of crisis with lax oversight, profligate fiscal policy and the “blind pursuit of profit”. Together with Vladimir Putin, Russia’s then-buoyant prime minister, he used Davos to send a message about the crumbling state of the old order and the shift to something new. Read more

Singapore Minister: A changed world order is upon us

“A changed world order is upon us,” Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s Minister Mentor, said in Washington last year. It is time for Asia to use its stronger voice to take a more prominent role in this new world order. The progression from the Western-dominated G8 to a more inclusive G20, with meaningful positions for leading Asian economies, rightly reflects the shift to a new equilibrium in which Asia has much greater weight.

The theme of this year’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos is undeniably ambitious: “Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild.”

Read more from the Energy Tribune

China will lead a vanguard of new players – game will be played according to Beijing’s rules

With China being hailed as the savior of the world economy, the government has reached the conclusion that this is its century: The West is irrelevant and China will lead a vanguard of new players – and the game will be played according to Beijing’s rules.

Particularly in the area of trade and investment, China hopes to jettison the constraints of world trade law for a return to the policy of national interest and raw power. In this new world order, Beijing sees little need for foreign …

Read more from the China Economic Review

Korea Taking a Lead in Shaping New World Order

“A hundred years after the historic shame of the forced annexation, the nation takes on a leading role in shaping a new world order,” the president was quoted as saying by his aides.

“Korea has now steered itself away from an Asian periphery to the center of the world,” Lee said during a new conference later in that month. Read more