The leaders of G20 countries and chiefs of international institutions are almost certainly comparing notes ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to be held next month. For example, when I approached an international chief's office seeking his views on the G20 Leaders' Summit, his staff said it was still too early to comment on it because many factors would influence its outcome.

The summit will give leaders of both advanced and emerging economies the chance to discuss problems facing the world since the global financial crisis and how to solve them.

It is understandable that the person I approached would need more time to work out how to deal with the complicated, multi-faceted challenges facing the world. But it is disturbing to see the cooperative spirit of Western powers dissipating in these difficult times.