World Economic System Must be Based on Cooperation I am sure you all will agree with me on one thing. The world seems full of crisis and disasters. From racial standoffs in Europe and the US to sectarian uprisings in the Middle East, our planet is in a mess. The most disturbing thing to me is the rising inequality between rich and poor. The gap that separates rich and poor continues to widen, which indicates that existing economic systems in countries are incapable of restoring a just balance. There is no doubt that economic development in many Asian countries has lifted tens of millions of people out of poverty. But, the gap between rich and poor in Asia is wider than ever. And the number of billionaires in Asia including China is growing faster than in any other region in the world. It is also true in many Western nations including the United States. I have just spent a few weeks in Thailand meeting some of my old friends. The evidence is truly shocking in this c