In the here and now of climate change, it is easy to lose sight of important signs of progress. China, the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is a case in point. By changing its economic model, shifting its sources of fuel, developing new transportation systems, and embracing eco-friendly urbanization, China’s sustainability strategy is an example of global leadership that the rest of the world should consider very carefully. In the rush to demonize China over trade, the West has missed this point altogether.

The growing anti-China sentiment in the United States is counterproductive to the trade relationship between the two countries. Americans must understand that this bilateral trade relationship is, in fact, beneficial to both nations.

The US-China trade war has distorted a clear-eyed view of how both par-ties arrived at the current confrontation. Rather than “hegemonic” policies being pursued by China, it is more accurate to say that both sides have delayed difficult structural reforms and are now paying the price.

In February, China’s State Council unveiled guidelines for developing the “Greater Bay Area” (GBA), covering nine cities around the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong province, plus Hong Kong and Macau. While the rest of the world remains mired in a seemingly interminable debate over how to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, China is working to deliver it.

China’s increasing role in global economic, security and governance means that domestic reforms will have implications beyond its borders.

While shadow banking remains too risky to fully legitimize as a reliable form of finance for China’s economy, there is one aspect that, under strong supervision, may provide relief for financing needs that banks cannot fully satisfy.

China’s foreign inward investment regime will witness a great leap forward next week during the final plenary of the ‘Two Sessions’ meetings, with the fast-tracked passage of a streamlined and liberal foreign investment law.

Although the global economy is witnessing an evident slowdown this year, 2019 is a promising year for deepening the financial supply-side structural reform. This requires China to be neither aggressive nor conservative, and instead be cautious and avoid making blunders.

The relationship with the U.S. has been an important factor for China’s success in the last 40 years in its reform and opening-up effort to integrate into the global system.

In 2018, the 40th anniversary of "reform & opening," how party leaders tell the story of China's transition over the past 40 years will shape future policy steps, both at home and abroad.