This past month, Nepal marked two important occasions – one a tragedy, the other a growing friendship with China that may well bring new challenges of its own as this poor, land-locked nation finds its way forward amidst the geopolitics of the region.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter visited Delhi in mid-April, and along with $14 billion in supposed defensive military items from the U.S., as well as a cancelled Beijing trip, unease has spread in China’s defense community. It appears that mutual concerns about China’s ambitions are principal driving force in the China-U.S. bilateral relationship.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called on China and India to continue negotiations to seek a peaceful settlement of boundary issues.

China now provides half of Pakistan’s military hardware and has demonstrated willingness to transfer technology to Pakistan. As geo-political alignments are changing, the mutuality of interests is drawing China and Pakistan closer.

President Xi Jinping’s latest trip to Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt point to the broader Chinese ambitions in the Middle East, a region where political turmoil and Russia’s military intervention in Syria are already altering the delicate balance of power. Only sustained pressure can persuade Beijing that its future lies in cooperation and not confrontation.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor plans connect China to the Persian Gulf through the quickest route. This huge investment can be transformational for South and Central Asia if Pakistan can improve upon its lackluster performance in FDI absorption and transparent governance.

China and India are ready for breakthrough diplomacy that has the potential to reorder the face of Asia, while supporting global growth prospects. Of course, there is also concern on both Chinese and Indian sides, due to the lingering border disputes, the shadow of the 1962 war, and the pivot of multiple powers to Asia.

China’s growing involvement in Sri Lanka and South Asia, drew Prime Minister Narendha Modi to visit Sri Lanka, the first for an Indian PM in 27 years. India’s utmost concern is security with China’s so-called “string of pearls” strategy, which though coined by a U.S. defense contractor, suspects China of building naval bases in the Indian Ocean. To ease tension, the two countries must accommodate each other’s maritime interests.

Curtis Chin explores who had the “best” and “worst” year in Asia, a list ranging from Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslims to India’s space program; each case sheds light on possible areas for China-U.S. cooperation.