Drawn by the rhythmic beats of drums and spirited shouts, Thanita Raemee, a 20-year-old Thai exchange student, navigated winding streets and bustling alleys until she arrived at the dynamic training grounds of the Ximen Women's Yingge Dance Team.

We all know that we live in a changing world. In the vast area of Asia and the Pacific that change is most evident, over the past 20 years, the economies of many nations in the region have been moving out of the category of “least developed” and graduating into a “middle-income” status.