‘We understand the value of peace’: War in Iran prompts Asian leaders to mend ties

The tropical island of Hainan off the southern coast of China is as peaceful and idyllic a place you could wish for, far from the troubles of a noisy world. But when politicians, business figures, diplomats and academics met on the island this week for the Boao Forum for Asia, it was under the shadow of the war in Iran. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress standing committee and the third most senior figure in the Communist Party, avoided any direct criticism of Donald Trump, who said on Wednesday he will be visiting Beijing on May 14th and…