Vietnam and South Korea have long shared a historical and cultural background in sinocentric Confucianism and have encountered few cultural obstacles. It is not surprising, then, that the ‘Korean wave’ — or Hallyu — in Southeast Asia is said to have started in Ho Chi Minh City, where the first Korean drama series ‘Medical Brothers’ was shown in 1998.

A more purposeful military diplomacy, Xi suggested, is a vital necessity to buttress China’s emergence as a great power in Asia and the world.

The Japanese government announced last week that it would provide aid for the first time to foreign militaries through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) program. The move is part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s aggressive diplomatic efforts to build Japanese influence and ties, particularly in Asia, on all levels, including military.

The future of aid, how aid agencies need to evolve and the impact of Australia’s foreign aid cuts were among the hot topics on Day One of the Australasian Aid Conference in Canberra.

On Sunday, Radio Australia's shortwave signal to Asia will be turned off, another result the ABC says of recent government funding cuts.  Shortwave broadcasting into the Pacific will continue, but signal strenth outside Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji may be degraded.

The tournament is one of the most important cultural events this country has ever staged. It is Australia's coming out as a member of Asia.

"By promoting the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, China has injected a strong impetus to the common development in Eurasia," said Bogomolov, adding that member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization believed that China's development would bring hope for world peace and global development.