China expands trade role in landmark agreement

China’s landmark trade agreement with Southeast Asian leaders is the latest example of how the communist giant is claiming a growing role in a region long dominated by the United States.

Leaders plan to sign the agreement today at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos, to begin creating the world’s biggest free trade zone and adopt a wide-ranging “plan of action” to boost ties in security, politics, technology, medicine and transportation.