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.

As large parts of Asia celebrate the arrival of the Lunar New Year on February 8th, it’s in with the Year of the Monkey. But before the Year of the Sheep fully recedes into memory, we take our annual look back at the people and events that made headlines across Asia—for good and for bad.

China-US cooperation is the critical factor for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Regaining and maintaining security in the area is the common interest and common responsibility of both nations, and that is the basis of President Xi Jinping’s fresh approach.

As the latest episode in regional conflict has unfolded, China has acted quickly on the diplomatic front, working with the United States and other major powers to reduce tension and resolve the Saudi-Iranian standoff through dialogue.

With Japan’s pride and nationalist impulse to play a bigger international role now rising, its domestic debate on national-security and constitutional reform is set to intensify. Although rising powers tend to be revisionist powers, a politically resurgent Japan, strikingly, is seeking to uphold the present Asian political and maritime order.

In a world of troubles, the ongoing re-shaping of the world order and global governance will require a meeting of minds and concerted actions from big powers.

Russian relations with NATO have tensed up as a result of Moscow’s intervention and squabble with Turkey, as the US re-weighs its core interests and level of involvement on the ground in the region.

There must be a fundamental policy shift embraced by all countries to eliminate the breeding ground of terrorism and violent extremism. Eradicating poverty, achieving balanced global development, strengthening the effectiveness and inclusiveness of global governance mechanisms, and showing respect for the rights of peoples to choose the development road are the essential policy objectives.

Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the basic norm of international relations. The US is duty-bound to make a careful study of China’s solemn position on this vital issue and show proper respect for China’s sovereignty instead of taking provocative actions based on contrived legal interpretations.

If big powers show courage and set aside their differences, and work together in a just, balanced intervention under the framework international law, they will not only help the Syrians out of hardship and avoid long-term instability in the region, they may also find a new way to prevent similar armed conflicts in the future.