Much has been said and written about the handshake between President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing. And there is no denying the handshake has eased tensions in East Asia over the Diaoyu Islands dispute between China and Japan, which seemed to threaten peace in the region.

Xi has also taken the initiative to strike a landmark climate deal with US President Barack Obama, setting a self-imposed deadline for the first time to cap China's emissions by 2030. Climate scientists may speculate on the efficacy of the deal, but they agree it is good beginning.

Despite knowing full well he will face stiff opposition from a Republican-dominated Congress to cut US emissions by 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025, Obama went ahead with the deal. The question now is: Will Obama show the same determination again?