Bi-lateral and multi-lateral Free Trade Agreements are becoming increasingly important in maximizing regional and international trade. Due to the immense size of China, South Korea and Japan’s economies, it is important that all three negotiate and develop a China-South Korea-Japan Free Trade Area. Increased trade between the three will lead to increases in the size of all of their economies.

Xi-Li diplomacy worked well in 2013, writes Zhai Kun. A successful 2014 will rely more on the coordination of its twin engines of development and security promotion.

Zhang Tuosheng lays out a path for East Asia to secure the peace and development it has enjoyed since the end of the Cold War and to consolidate and develop its nebulous security order featuring pluralism, cooperation and coexistence.

China’s new leadership anticipates that entering Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations would trigger a new round of domestic reforms. Niu Tiehang elaborates on the new roadmap for Chinese reforms and the “outside-in” effects the TPP talks and the establishment of Shanghai FTZ would have on China.

The success of the Canada-EU Trade Agreement has allowed Canada to refocus its priorities on the US-led Trans-pacific Partnership trade talks and potentially paves the way for a larger free trade deal in the future. Hugh Stephens posits that as trade negotiations continue, Canada will position itself to take a stronger foothold in Asia.

As free trade agreements flourish around the globe, He Weiwen examines the developments between the China-ASEAN FTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership noting that while the US and China have been left out of each negotiation respectively, it does not mean the countries are competing directly against each other.

After two decades of on-and-off talks, Washington and Brussels hope to conclude their trade and investment partnership. However, it is not a marriage, but a triangle drama. Emerging Asia is the third party.

By jointly contributing to the multilateral trading system, China and the US will find new common interests and solutions, writes He Weiwen. In turn, the bilateral trade relationship can also be solidly anchored in a broader and more constructive multilateral trading system.

Commenting on the recent US-China 2022 report, He Weiwen outlines how bilateral trade between China and the US is expected to grow over the next ten years and how this will be beneficial for both countries.

Under the newly elected leadership of Park Geun-hye, South Korea is poised to transform its relations with China and North Korea through increased engagement.