China and Egypt on Wednesday pledged to promote bilateral cooperation on big construction projects during the first China visit by President Abdel-Fattah Sisi. The premier also called for closer cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The U.S.-European partnership is central to addressing problems requiring a global response. The commitment of young people to transatlantic problem-solving will depend in large part on their personal experience. There is no better way to inform young people and to make a life-lasting impression than through exchange programs.

Militaries around the world are increasingly tasked with complex humanitarian missions that extend beyond their traditional role. Such missions include development, diplomacy, stability, and peacekeeping operations, and often entail long-term engagements with civilian populations in conflict or disaster zones.

APEC can take global leadership with a practical, comprehensive approach—call it a “Pacific Economic Partnership” for global growth, or PEP for short. This would consist of concrete, achievable components, many already in the works. It’s the closest thing APEC has to a shovel-ready growth strategy, but it requires both U.S. and Chinese leadership.

Finance and development ministers from around the world next week will warn of considerable downside risks to the global economy, and call for an effort to protect the world's poor, according to the draft of a communique they plan to issue after a meeting on Saturday.

The philanthropic sector has welcomed the Federal Government’s move to join forces with those of the United States, United Kingdom and Sweden to launch a $200 million Global Innovation Fund. Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said that Australia would contribute $30 million over four years towards the fund that would see the Government take a more creative approach to the planning and delivery of development programs.