Let 2026 be a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-US relations

 

China US Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump concluded his state visit to China on Friday afternoon and departed Beijing on Air Force One. During this historic and landmark visit, mutual respect, valuing peace, and exploring cooperation were the overarching themes of the summit. The agreement reached by the two heads of state to build "a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" is the most important political consensus and has attracted widespread attention from the outside world. An editorial in the South China Morning Post said this is "a realisation that the China-US relationship is so complex and consequential that they need to keep it stable - not only for the sake of the two peoples, but also for the international community." The article said that the summit in Beijing "heralds the start of constructive, stable relations."

Chinese President Xi Jinping used "four stabilities" to elaborate on the core essence of "a constructive relationship of strategic stability": a positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences, and an enduring stability with promises of peace. Some foreign media said that this is a layered structure of premise, pathway, key, and goal. Many analysts believe that the creative use of the concept of "strategic stability" by both sides has transcended the original meaning of crisis management between major powers during the Cold War, and has provided a new strategic framework for expanding pragmatic cooperation through healthy competition among major powers and managing differences in the new era.

It is not difficult to see that "a constructive relationship of strategic stability" has a rigorous theoretical logic and rich practical implications. The "four stabilities" mean that both sides should continuously enhance the resilience of China-US relations through exchanges and cooperation, avoid a zero-sum game, and ensure that bilateral policies do not fluctuate wildly, let alone lead to conflict, confrontation, or even war. These four stabilities are interconnected and organically unified, setting up a crucial protective net for China-US relations when facing storms and reefs, and providing fundamental impetus for this giant ship to sail in the right direction. Under the strategic guidance of this new positioning, this "most important bilateral relationship in the world today" has become more certain and predictable, which in itself is an important public good provided to the international community. It conforms to the trend of the times, responds to the greatest concerns of all parties, and its widespread welcome is inevitable.

The new positioning of China-US relations represents a recalibration of each side's goals and modes of interaction under new circumstances, addressing the overarching question of whether China and the US are rivals or partners. For some time, certain people in the US have viewed China's development as a "threat," defined China as a "rival," made "competition" the dominant framework of their China strategy, and even attempted to promote "decoupling" and the severing of supply chains. Facts have proven this way of thinking entirely wrong. China's growth is part of the historical trend, and any attempt to contain or suppress China is doomed to fail. "Decoupling" and supply-chain disruption ultimately harm both sides. The concept of "a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" transcends the narrow zero-sum mindset of "your loss is my gain" or "your rise means my decline." It restores clarity to the true nature of China-US relations and reflects a sense of responsibility toward history, the people, and the world.

Positive cooperation, healthy competition, managing differences, and enduring peace are fully consistent with China's long-standing principles and propositions. These ideas have been widely welcomed by the international community and continuously tested in practice. This also demonstrates that China and the US are moving beyond a cycle of confrontation and negotiation toward gradually building consensus and clarifying direction, while deepening exploration of a new model for major-country relations. Today, dialogue between the two sides is more equal, communication more pragmatic, and red lines clearer, showing the possibility for China-US relations to open a new chapter through resilience. 

The proposal to build a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" underscores China's consistent commitment to head-of-state diplomacy and its active efforts to promote a China-US relationship that is strategic, constructive, and stable, so that positive interaction between the two countries can bring greater stability to an unsettled world.

The US side has agreed to define the building of a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" as the new positioning of bilateral ties. US President Donald Trump said that China-US relations will get "better than ever before." Responding to media questions on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that bilateral relations are important and constructive, adding that world stability is in everyone's interest.

A "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" should not be a slogan, but must become a shared objective upheld by both sides and translated into joint actions. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's two largest economies, China and the US should achieve peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and find the right way to get along with each other. This is what the peoples of both countries desire and what people around the world hope to see. Expanding the list of cooperation while reducing the list of problems will require concrete actions to realize "constructive strategic stability" in China-US relations. 

China hopes the US side will demonstrate the responsibility expected of a major power through practical actions, work with China along the direction charted by the two heads of state, continue enriching the substance of this new positioning, and translate it into concrete policies and practical measures, jointly opening a new chapter in China-US relations. There is reason to believe that 2026 will become a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-US relations.

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Draw the line on blood-taking

 Doctors urge cleaner rules on pharmacy services

Needling concern: Calls are growing for invasive clinical procedures to be carried out at licensed facilities and that consistent enforcement is carried out against premises offering blood-taking services without proper approval.

PETALING JAYA: There is a need to clearly define the scope of services pharmacies can and cannot provide, particularly the distinction between finger-prick screening, venous blood-taking, laboratory testing, diagnosis and treatment, says a doctors’ group.

The Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur has also called for consistent enforcement against premises offering blood-taking services without proper approval.

Its president, Dr Eugene Chooi, said clear guidelines should be issued to all healthcare providers to eliminate ambiguity and ensure consistent patient safety standards.

“Patient safety must be protected through enforcement that is timely, transparent and fair,” he said.

Dr Chooi was responding to a statement from the Health Ministry that operators of premises providing blood collection or phlebotomy services without a licence could be fined up to RM500,000, jailed for up to six years, or both.

“Community pharmacists play an important role in medication counselling, health education and basic screening within their professional scope.

“The issue is clear, blood-taking is an invasive clinical procedure.

Refined grace in every step

“It must be performed within properly registered healthcare facilities, under clear clinical governance and accountability,” he added.

He said such procedures carry real risks and must be carried out by trained and authorised personnel in regulated settings, stressing that there should be no shortcuts, grey areas or double standards.

Dr Chooi said Malaysia does not lack healthcare regulations but enforcement has been inconsistent.

He said the public was now confused after years of seeing blood test promotions in non-clinical settings, which may have created the impression that such services are permitted.

He warned that blood-taking involves infection-control risks, proper patient identification, specimen handling and clinical interpretation, adding that blurred boundaries between screening, diagnosis and treatment could lead patients to delay seeking care or misinterpret results.

“That puts public safety at risk.”

Waking Up in Pain? Your Sleep Position May Need Adjusting.

 Stiffness, achy joints, acid reflux, snoring — experts explain the pros and cons of the three main ways people sleep.

Rachel Levit Ruiz

Ever wake up with a crick in your neck or a pain in your lower back? Are you roused from sleep by heartburn, or a partner complaining that you snore?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your sleep position might be to blame.

There is no one “right” way to sleep, said Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

But if you are waking up with discomfort or stiffness or having restless nights, certain adjustments to your sleeping posture may help. Here are some of the most common issues associated with how people sleep, and what to do about them.

On Your Side

Many of us sleep on our sides with no problem. But for some people — especially those with joint issues or who are older — it can put a lot of pressure on the shoulder, hip and knees, said Dr. Rohan Jotwani, a pain medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.SKIP ADVERTISEMENT

Sleeping on top of a memory foam or gel mattress pad can help by distributing your weight more evenly, he said. Placing a pillow between your knees can also reduce hip, knee and lower back pain by keeping your legs and hips aligned. 

When you’re on your side, using a pillow that is either too thick or too thin can force your spine out of alignment, leading to muscle and joint strain. Or it can put pressure on nerves, causing pain, tingling or weakness in your shoulders, arms or upper back, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said.  

Those who have a deviated septum may find that sleeping on their side affects how well they breathe, said Dr. Gerald Suh, an ear, nose, throat and sleep specialist in Princeton, N.J. The condition occurs when the thin layer of cartilage and bone that divides the nasal cavity is off-center or crooked. It is common, he said, affecting probably more than 80 percent of people, though only about 30 percent notice an influence on breathing.

For some, it’s easier to breathe when they sleep on the side that the narrower nostril is on, allowing air to flow unimpeded through the wider one, Dr. Suh said.

On Your Back

The goal when sleeping is to maintain the natural curvature of the spine and neck “without creating too many bends and twists and turns,” Dr. Jotwani said. Sleeping on your back is best for maintaining this alignment, he said, but it can also cause or exacerbate other issues.

The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, for instance — which occurs when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep and cause snoring and temporary pauses in breathing — can worsen when lying face up, said Azadeh Yadollahi, a scientist who studies sleep and airway disorders at the University Health Network in Toronto.

If you have sleep apnea, sleeping on your side can help keep the airway open and let you breathe more freely, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said.

Sleeping on your back may also worsen acid reflux symptoms by allowing stomach acid to seep into the esophagus. And while any sleeping position can lead to nasal congestion, lying face up can cause you to feel even more stuffy, especially when dealing with a cold or allergies, Dr. Suh said.

Propping up the top half of your body with a pillow or a wedge-shaped bolster helps relieve acid reflux, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. Or try elevating the head of your bed by putting blocks under the legs of your bed frame, she said. Some research also suggests that sleeping on your left side can help, too.

Pregnant women are often told to avoid sleeping on their backs after about 20 weeks to prevent the uterus from putting pressure on a large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart. That could restrict blood flow to vital organs or lower blood pressure, leading to lightheadedness.

When pregnant, it’s safest to sleep on your side, especially the left side, as this moves the weight off the vein, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. This should help with pregnancy-related acid reflux, too, she added.

On Your Stomach

This is the least common sleeping position, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. It also tends to be the hardest on your spine.

Having your head turned to one side all night strains the neck, Dr. Jotwani said. And that can be compounded by a thick pillow that angles your neck upward.

The position can also hyperextend your lower back. In a review published in 2025, researchers found that sleeping on the stomach is associated with more lower back pain than sleeping on the back or side.

If you enjoy sleeping on your stomach but wake up with low back pain, it can help to put a small pillow under your pelvis. This prevents your abdomen from sinking into the mattress and putting too much arch in your back, Dr. Jotwani said. But if possible, he added, sleep on your back or side for better alignment.

How to Learn to Sleep in a Different Position

Switching to a new position “can be very daunting,” Dr. Jotwani said. He recommended identifying a new position and then trying to spend at least a little time in it each night. Over time, your body will get used to it.

Strategic placement of pillows, special cushions or devices can help keep you in one position throughout the night, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. To stay on your side, try placing a body pillow behind you, she suggested. There are also cushions that strap onto your back to keep you on your side, and electronic devices that vibrate when they sense that you’ve rolled onto your back. They’re the technological equivalent of getting elbowed by your bed partner, Dr. Yadollahi said.

If you’re new to sleeping on your back, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said you might be more comfortable with a small pillow under your knees, even if it feels awkward for the first few nights.

Your sleep position is just one of many factors that contributes to your overall sleep quality, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, getting adequate exercise and keeping your bedroom dark and cool are all important.

But, she added, if getting a good night’s sleep can be “as simple as turning onto your side, then why not try it?”

A version of this article appears in print on April 7, 2026, Section D, Page 7 of the New York edition with the headline: Your Sleep Position May Cause You Pain. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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Tips for Better Sleep

Tired of tossing and turning? There are some strategies you could try to maximize your hours in bed.

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• One Critical Sleep Habit: A consistent sleep schedule could have real benefits for your health.

• REM and Deep Sleep: These important phases in your nightly routine seem to play outsize roles in cognitive health.

• Sleep Trends: Skip the mouth tape, keep a “worry journal” and limit blue light exposure close to bed time. Here's a look at some of the other popular tips making the rounds on social media and whether they work.

• Cognitive Shuffling: Does this mental exercise, meant to signal to your brain that it’s time to fall asleep, really work? We spoke with sleep experts and the scientist who created the technique to learn more.

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Turn Your Bedroom Into a Sleep Sanctuary With Wirecutter’s Recommendations

• Good rest starts with a great mattress. These tips can help you pick the right one for you out of the countless options available.

• Next, you’ll need a good pillow. These customizable models offer the comfort you need — whether you sleep on your stomach, side or back.

• Looking for a more luxe experience? The right sheets can make a big difference. Here is a selection to choose from.

• White noise machines have the power to mask yapping dogs, clanky radiators and late-night parties. Consider buying one.

Ever wake up with a crick in your neck or a pain in your lower back?Are you roused from sleep by heartburn, or a partner complaining that you snore?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your sleep position might be to blame.

There is no one “right” way to sleep, said Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

But if you are waking up with discomfort or stiffness or having restless nights, certain adjustments to your sleeping posture may help. Here are some of the most common issues associated with how people sleep, and what to do about them.

On Your Side

Many of us sleep on our sides with no problem. But for some people — especially those with joint issues or who are older — it can put a lot of pressure on the shoulder, hip and knees, said Dr. Rohan Jotwani, a pain medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Harsh reality about estate planning in Malaysia

 

Filepic

OVER Rm90bil of wealth in Malaysia is currently frozen – not lost, not spent, just inaccessible.

Behind this staggering figure are families waiting months, sometimes years, to access money that could otherwise be used for mortgage payments, children’s education or medical bills.

This is the uncomfortable reality of estate planning in Malaysia. While many Malaysians work hard to build wealth through property, savings and investments, far fewer take the final step of ensuring that this wealth can be effectively passed on to their beneficiaries.

Estimates suggest that frozen estates in Malaysia have risen from Rm42bil in 2011 to as high as Rm90bil in recent years. According to a Bernama report in May last year, Rm13.3bil in unclaimed money was recorded by the Accountant General’s Department as of April 2025.

In news reports last year, Amanah Raya Berhad group managing director Ahmad Feizal Sulaiman Khan was quoted as saying that Rm65bil in assets, including real estate and cash belonging to deceased individuals, remain unclaimed due to lack of estate planning.

At the household level, this translates into delays, disputes and financial strain. At the national level, it represents idle capital that could otherwise contribute to economic activity.

Another reality that many overlook is that debts do not end when life does. Before any inheritance can be distributed, all of the deceased’s outstanding liabilities must be settled. This includes mortgages, personal loans, credit card balances and taxes.

In many cases, what appears to be a substantial estate might be reduced significantly after debts are cleared, leaving some families with far less than expected. In extreme cases, there may be nothing left at all.

Estate planning is often misunderstood as something complex or only relevant to the wealthy. In truth, it is a practical step that applies to anyone with dependents or assets.

From a practitioner’s perspective, three elements are critical.

First, legal clarity: A clear will or estate plan ensures that assets are distributed according to intention and reduces delays and disputes.

Second, debt awareness: Managing liabilities ensures that more of the estate can be preserved for beneficiaries rather than being consumed by obligations.

Third, liquidity planning: For families who need immediate access to funds, instruments such as insurance or structured arrangements can provide cash flow when it matters most without being tied up in legal processes.

These are not complicated strategies. They are basic safeguards that determine whether wealth can actually serve its purpose.

One of the biggest barriers to estate planning in Malaysia is attitude. Many people avoid the topic because it feels uncomfortable or premature while others assume they will get their assets without any complications.

But the evidence tells a different story. Failing to plan does not remove risk; it shifts the burden to the family often when emotions are high and urgent decisions must be made.

Estate planning should be viewed as a practical extension of responsible financial planning instead of a morbid exercise.

Ultimately, the true value of wealth lies not in how much we accumulate but in how effectively it protects the people we care about.

ASSOC PROF CHONG WEI YING Taylor’s Business School Taylor’s University