ASEM looks toward fast Asian growth

Leaders met at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) with much focus on Asia's role as an economic growth engine in the coming years.

With the world rocked by the financial meltdown and many developed nations facing recession or worse, a number of Asian countries led by China are still expected to grow in the short to mid term.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that rapid economic growth in Asia was key to digging out of the current mess. Asia has about $4.36 trillion in currency reserves with China owning $1.9 trillion of that total.

Washington Post

Chinese foreign minister says ASEM summit was productive
Xinhua - 43 minutes ago
BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Saturday summarized the achievements of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit saying it "reaped rich fruits".
China Calls for More Work to Solve Global Economic Crisis Voice of America
World leaders pledge financial reform as gloom deepens AFP

Cambodia, Thailand pledge peace

Somchai Wongsawat, the Thai prime minister, and Cambodian leader Hun Sen met to discuss their border conflict and said the two nations are now "good friends" pledged to peace.

Deadly clashes erupted last week in the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near the border of both countries.

AsiaOne

Thai and Cambodian PMs pledge peace Aljazeera.net - 36 minutes ago Thailand and Cambodia have put the issue of a deadly border dispute behind them and are now "good friends", officials have said following a meeting between the leaders of the two countries. Thailand, Cambodia say clashes behind them Reuters Thai, Cambodian officials negotiate border dispute International Herald Tribune

Pakistan strengthening ties with China

Pakistan is solidifying its alliance with China with the latter pledging to help Islamabad with debt payments and economic development.

With rival India completing a nuclear deal with the United States, Pakistan has turned to its old ally to big two plants of its own -- the Chasma-3 and Chasma-4 reactors that will generate 680 MW of electricity.

BBC News

Making a defence pact with China PakTribune.com - 38 minutes ago President Asif Ali Zardari’s official visit to China at its end ran short of a most strategic need of the time, a defence pact with China and desirably immediately followed by joint militmanoeuvrings. Beijing assures Pakistan of support for debt payments Financial Times UPDATE 1-Pakistan trumpets intensified ties with China Reuters

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Need for a new era of strategic ties with China
Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan - Oct 14, 2008
But Pakistan may need to do more than just ask for help and talk about the history of the Pakistan-China friendship. It may have to demonstrate through its ...
Pakistan seeks cash amid financial crunch and costly insurgency The Canadian Press
In Scramble for Cash, Pakistan Turns to China's Deep Reserves Washington Post