Change of tone in Trump's cordial phone call to Xi

First it was that belated Chinese Lunar New Year's greeting.

Then came a similarly belated, yet in the White House's words, "lengthy" and "extremely cordial", telephone call.

To many who have waited in anxious anticipation for the completion of the diplomatic ritual, now is the time to heave that overdue sigh of relief. And for the Asia-Pacific region, it can now afford to breathe more freely.