Asia New Zealand Foundation

In this commentary, Professor Yongjin Zhang, former director of the New Zealand Asia Institute and now at the University of Bristol’s Centre for East Asian Studies, examines the different perceptions of the European Union, the United States and China itself in relation to the rising Asian power’s potential new role and responsibility in the global system.

China has been actively advocating governance reform of international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). IMF reform – in particular, increased representation for emerging economic powers – was top of the agenda at the June meeting of BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China).