
By Gwynne Dyer - By the end of November 6, we will know who will be the president of the United States for the next four years. We already know who will be the leader of China for the next 10 years, although Xi Jinping will not be officially installed in power until a few days later. But some would argue that that is the more important event.

By R. Viswanathan (*) - During the sixth China - Latin America Business summit in Hangzhou in October 17-18, the Inter American Development Bank (BID) brought out a report on Latin American investment in China.

Brazil's National Petroleum Agency, ANP, approved Chinese oil company Sinochem's purchase of a 10% stake in five offshore blocks as the state-run company continues its expansion into Latin America's hottest oil frontier.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has upheld its decision that China's tariffs on imports of certain US steel products were illegal. Beijing had imposed duties on a particular kind of US steel, alleging that its makers were being given subsidies by the US government.

China's policymakers have been given more room to boost stimulus measures after the country's inflation rate dipped in September. Consumer prices rose 1.9% from a year earlier which is down from a rate of 2% in August.

World Bank has lowered its growth forecast for China citing weak demand for its exports and lower investment growth. The bank said it expects China's economy to grow by 7.7% this year, down from its projection of 8.2% in May.

Chilean fruit exports to China have experienced a great increase in recent years having jumped 35% in 2011 (over 2010), with a value of 438 million dollars, according to statistics provided to the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture, which place Chile as one of the main fruit providers from the southern hemisphere.

China has “no intention of influencing” the coming Venezuelan elections said a Foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing following allegations from opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles that recent economic agreements signed between Beijing and Caracas are part of that strategy.

China's first aircraft carrier has entered into service, the defence ministry announced. The 300 meters Liaoning - named after the province where it was refitted - is a refurbished Soviet ship purchased from Ukraine (ex Varyag).

The United States launched on Monday a new trade case against Chinese auto and auto-parts subsidies as President Barack Obama stumped for votes in Ohio, an auto manufacturing state that could be decisive in the November presidential election.