Foreword: As the financial crisis has metamorphosed into global recession, international perceptions of China are changing. For years, foreign critics have accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices, stealing jobs, running up excessive current account surpluses and manipulating its exchange rate. Such complaints have not gone away. However, China is no longer viewed just as a source of disruption, but also as an indispensable partner – just conceivably a leader – in hauling the world out of trouble.