China’s decision to ban coal-fired power plants in Beijing by 2020 marks a big advance in battling climate change. Stewart Taggard argues that this is the first step in a long march toward wider application of ‘energy by wire.’

China has two key challenges in the years ahead. The first is to build a new, global rules-based system with the other major world power, the United States, that supplants the post-WWII order.

Jin Ying warns the U.S. to be weary of Japan, citing their history of “running away with the bone” as the U.S. and China jostle for influence in the Pacific. Ying agrees with Democratic advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski that the U.S. should sign a major charter with China, just as it did with Britain during WWII.

There are several scenarios for military regional order in the Pacific, but “collective security” would be the most desirable strategic choice for regional countries. Existing organizations and communications platforms, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, provide a good foundation for this military order and continued economic integration in the Pacific.

The initiatives and enormous investments turned the APEC meeting in Beijing from a “talk shop” to one of action. Han Liqun stresses that all APEC member economies should be fully confident in building an open and liberal economic and trade environment in the Asia-Pacific.

China is the leading advocate for progress in the form of a “feasibility study” on an inclusive new regional trade agreement, the FTAAP. Concerned that this will detract from U.S. regional interests, the FTAAP ironically has provided impetus for the completion of the U.S.-led TPP proposal.

Tao Wenzhou explains how the Xi-Obama Summit achieved four major bilateral goals: increased commitment to create a new bilateral investment agreement, shared reduction of CO2 emissions, more liberal visa regulations for people-to-people exchanges, and new mil-to-mil protocols.

When evaluating the meeting between Presidents Xi and Obama, the two countries should transcend the mentality of a zero-sum game, and place their main focus on cooperation.

Zhang Junshe describes how the establishment of mutual trust mechanisms between China and the U.S.– through military leader exchanges and joint military exercises – can help both sides to know each other’s strategic intentions and reduce the possibilities of misunderstanding and misjudgment and thus lower the risks of military friction.

The much anticipated Xi-Obama meeting after the APEC Summit achieved many positive bilateral policy goals: from the increased liberalization of visa and trade tariffs to mutual military cooperation. However, as Jia Qingguo explains, the offensive realist perspectives of individuals in both countries and the fractured U.S. Congress interests will hinder progress.