Three years after the great global financial crisis, what's changed? According to this Guardian opinion piece, not that much. Of course, banks are much more cautious and less free-spending than before, but the overall system remains the same. Would another crisis happen again in the future if no big changes are made to our global financial system, or would the current caution be enough to ensure eternal security? As China and Asia look set to continue their growth and take up a greater role through more local consumption and demand, some might be tempted to think that ensures a rosy future and eliminates the need for any radical rethink in the global economic system. We'll see.

The UK's foreign secretary openly called China an "indispensable superpower" and says China will definitely join the U.S. as one of the two biggest powers in the world, in an interview with The Guardian. It's a bit remarkable for someone of his status to be so frank about China and illustrates the regard and power that China possesses now. The article includes some very interesting comments by David Miliband, especially that Europe may become a third power, thus implying that Europe cannot surpass China on the world stage, and that Europe has not been strategic enough in dealing with China.