Low-hanging fruit for Xi and Trump to pluck at Shenzhen Apec summit

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit is set to take place in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. Shenzhen will also be playing host to the first of two further meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump this year.

When the two leaders met in May and September, they called for "constructive strategic stability" as a prescription for US-China relations. Both sides are keen to maintain the fragile detente, in part due to domestic considerations.

Beijing wants to minimise flux and uncertainty in foreign relations ahead of the 21st national congress, due to be held in the fourth quarter of next year, where key leadership reshuffles are expected to be announced. Trump, on the other hand, is eager to secure quick, visible "wins" on trade and investment, especially after the Republican Party's disastrous election performance in the US midterms.