China Seizes Initiative at Key Asian Summit Ahead of US Election.

China has taken advantage of a summit in Laos to strengthen its economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced plans to upgrade and broaden a trade deal with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as accelerate rail projects with Thailand and Cambodia. China also agreed to lift restrictions on lobster imports from Australia. The summit provided an opportunity for Asian leaders to navigate a middle-ground between the US and China, with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba calling for improved relations with China despite expressing concerns over recent incidents. The US, on the other hand, struggled to present compelling narratives and major policy initiatives to ASEAN. [Extracted from the article]