APEC: Xi and Abe awkwardly meet, deals struck, and what is the Asia-Pacific Dream?

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Article: http://asianewsweekly.net/2014/11/11/apec-xi-abe-awkwardly-meet-deals-st... Tuesday, November 11, 2014 In a day filled with headline news surrounding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, here are just a few of the major developments that are shaping the Asia-Pacific region. Following what can only be described as an awkward and disinterested handshake, Chinese President Xi finally met face to face with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “It was the first step for improving relations by returning to the starting point of mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests,” Abe told reporters. President Xi reiterated that historical issues were of importance to China and the Chinese people. That inconsistencies must be resolved and an appropriate attitude displayed to ensure peace, stability and the region’s development. Only by honoring past official commitments and standing by the Murayama Statement can Japan develop a friendly and visionary relationship with its Asian neighbors, Xi said. South Korea and China concluded years of negotiations regarding a free trade agreement at the summit. Presidents Park Geun-hye and Xi will hash out the details during the final months of 2014 and formally sign the agreement early next year. Russia also announced a new energy deal with China. They will supply Russian natural gas to China along a western route. In May of this year, Russia and China signed a $400 billion deal for an eastern supply route. Finally, during his opening remarks to the CEO sessions, President Xi presented his Asia-Pacific dream. “We have the responsibility to create and realize an Asia-Pacific dream for the people of the region based on a shared destiny of all of the Asia-Pacific and incorporated peace, development and mutual benefits.” It’s a variant on Xi’s Chinese Dream, and while he noted China wishes to live in harmony with his neighbors, one can’t ignore the more aggressive stance the nation has taken recently. Join me this Friday on Asia News Weekly when Curtis S Chin, Inaugural Asia Fellow with the Milken Institute returns to the podcast to discuss the APEC Summit and preview the East Asia Summit which is set to begin. The Asia Brief is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Connect with me on social media and the internet! Twitter: http://twitter.com/SteveMillerANW Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/asianewsweekly Podcast: http://asianewsweekly.net TAGS: asia news,asia news weekly,podcast,steve miller,qiranger,SteveMillerANW,APEC,Xi Jinping,Abe,China,Japan,Asia News,Asia News Weekly,The Asia Brief,Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Membership Organization)
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