In today's episode, Bert Hofman, former World Bank country director for China, Mongolia and Korea, examines how regional trade and investment ties are growing stronger even as the global landscape shifts. The upcoming APEC meeting in Shenzhen offers a rare platform where economies with competing interests can still come together and build consensus. Progress may not happen all at once. It can start with a customs procedure, a shared standard or a modest agreement that opens the door to wider cooperation. Step by step, practical solutions can help build trust and shape the future of the Asia-Pacific.