This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29983537
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Apec summit: World leaders gather in Beijing | Apec summit: World leaders gather in Beijing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Leaders from China, Russia, Japan, the US and other Asia-Pacific states are in Beijing for a two-day summit. | Leaders from China, Russia, Japan, the US and other Asia-Pacific states are in Beijing for a two-day summit. |
| Bilateral meetings between top leaders will take place on Monday, followed by a formal leaders' summit on Tuesday. | Bilateral meetings between top leaders will take place on Monday, followed by a formal leaders' summit on Tuesday. |
| There is speculation Chinese leader Xi Jinping could meet his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, for the first time, after months of tension. | There is speculation Chinese leader Xi Jinping could meet his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, for the first time, after months of tension. |
| The meeting comes as China looks to underline its growing status as regional leader and economic giant. | The meeting comes as China looks to underline its growing status as regional leader and economic giant. |
| The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit is the biggest event hosted so far by Mr Xi, who took over the Chinese presidency in March 2013. | The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit is the biggest event hosted so far by Mr Xi, who took over the Chinese presidency in March 2013. |
| Leaders from the 21 Apec member nations are attending the Beijing talks and trade is one of the top priorities. | |
| The US will be pushing its Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation economic framework along the Pacific Rim which currently excludes China. | |
| It is the economic aspect of America's "Asia rebalance", which some experts say is aimed at countering China's growing influence in the region. | |
| China, however, will be trying to shore up support for its own separate free-trade agreement, the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. | |
| 'Robust conversation' | |
| Both US President Barack Obama and Russia leader Vladimir Putin will deliver speeches later in the day. | Both US President Barack Obama and Russia leader Vladimir Putin will deliver speeches later in the day. |
| But the two men are not expected to hold talks, amid frosty ties over Russia's support for separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine. | But the two men are not expected to hold talks, amid frosty ties over Russia's support for separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine. |
| Australian leader Tony Abbott, however, says he is seeking a "robust conversation" with Mr Putin over MH17, the Malaysia Airlines plane brought down by a missile over Ukraine. | |
| Talks would focus on "our absolute expectation that Russia will be as good as its word, that it will fully co-operate with the investigations that are underway and that it will do what it can to ensure that justice is done", Mr Abbott said. | Talks would focus on "our absolute expectation that Russia will be as good as its word, that it will fully co-operate with the investigations that are underway and that it will do what it can to ensure that justice is done", Mr Abbott said. |
| The plane is believed to have been hit by a surface-to-air missile fired from an area controlled by pro-Russian rebels. Russian officials have denied the allegations. | The plane is believed to have been hit by a surface-to-air missile fired from an area controlled by pro-Russian rebels. Russian officials have denied the allegations. |
| Territorial dispute | Territorial dispute |
| Potentially on the agenda is a meeting between the Chinese and Japanese leaders, something that could signal easing tensions. | Potentially on the agenda is a meeting between the Chinese and Japanese leaders, something that could signal easing tensions. |
| A territorial dispute in the East China Sea has left ties between the two Asian giants at their lowest ebb in years. | A territorial dispute in the East China Sea has left ties between the two Asian giants at their lowest ebb in years. |
| Late last week, however, Beijing said the two sides had agreed to set up a crisis management mechanism to prevent the situation from worsening. | Late last week, however, Beijing said the two sides had agreed to set up a crisis management mechanism to prevent the situation from worsening. |
| Departing for the summit on Sunday, Mr Abe said final arrangements for the meeting with Mr Xi were still to be made, but said he was committed to improving Sino-Japanese ties. | |
| Ahead of the summit Russia and China signed a major gas deal, pledging greater "mutually fruitful co-operation". Beijing has also pledged $40bn (£25.2bn) to help Asian nations improve trade links. | Ahead of the summit Russia and China signed a major gas deal, pledging greater "mutually fruitful co-operation". Beijing has also pledged $40bn (£25.2bn) to help Asian nations improve trade links. |
| In other early summit developments, China and South Korea have agreed to sign a free trade deal which will remove or reduce most barriers to trade and investment between the two countries. |