2018 in review: A year of contention and cooperation

World
Europe

01:06

For better or for worse, 2018 is running out of time and in just a few days, a new year will herald a fresh start and a chance to make things right. But before this year becomes history, we are turning back the clock to revisit the biggest events and most notable moments that grabbed the headlines – and our attention – in the past 360-odd days. "2018 in Review" is a four-episode series about this year's news that are set to shape 2019.

2018 has been a year of disputes par excellence.

The Group of Seven (G7) summit ended in disarray as U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of a joint statement while accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of making "false statements" in June.

A month earlier, the controversial transfer of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem triggered deadly protests in Gaza.

Also this year, Washington launched trade wars, and imposed extra tariffs on its trading partners.

But 2018 was also a year that saw deepening cooperation.

British Prime Minister Theresa May visited China in April, and with both countries committed to free trade and globalization, they are set to forge an enhanced version of the "Golden Era" in bilateral relations.

The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September set a new path for China-Africa cooperation. The 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in east China's Qingdao City in June ushered in a new area for cooperation among member states. Meanwhile, the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in November achieved positive outcomes.