China’s incoming government chiefs face huge tasks, amid deepening debate over China’s future. Internal challenges will dominate the Beijing agenda, but China’s new leaders and the Obama team must refocus on dealing with darkening trends in US-China relations.

Mirroring foreign relations following World War II, it appears Japan is once again beholden to the US to preserve regional security. The US must toe a careful line between advancing Japanese interests and containing China.

Now that Washington has sent Beijing a clear message it will be around for the long haul, however, the time has come for the two countries to deepen and institutionalize relationship to secure Asia’s lasting peace and prosperity.

Chinese leaders must balance profit margins and economic growth with improving their environment and the quality of life for ordinary people, writes Tom Watkins. China's new Communist Party Secretary General Xi Jinping appears to understand that leadership must begin at the top to ensure a peaceful rise.

A consensus is rapidly emerging within China that the rule of law is the single most important precondition for inclusive, sustainable, and long-term peace and prosperity.

While many wonder if Xi Jinping will be a reformer in the mode of Deng Xiaoping, Yukon Huang writes China's regional decentralization of political power will expedite reforms and lead to more representative local elections.

Chinese citizens' desire for better protection of their fundamental rights is stronger than ever. We must abandon the reeducation system to fulfill the pledges of Constitution, respect and protect human rights, and ensure individual freedoms.

As China enters the urban age, Kam Wing Chan writes that a critical part of the Chinese dream is the "urban dream" - the promotion of urbanisation to generate household consumption to put the economy on a sustainable footing.

As masters of the universe prepare to meet in Davos, Switzerland for the 11th annual World Economic Forum, pessimism must not characterize perceptions of China.