Trade tensions between China and the US return to the top of the global agenda this week, while the Malaysian prime minister will be in Beijing and the US national security adviser will head to Europe for talks with Russian officials.

New tariffs in the trade dispute between Beijing and Washington are set to be implemented on Thursday, while a Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen is expected in the US for talks this month. China's Commerce Ministry says it will impose retaliatory measures when "completely unreasonable" US tariffs of 25 percent on 16 billion US dollars' worth of Chinese goods take effect. Also this week, US and EU officials will discuss their trade differences and the influential Jackson Hole economic symposium will be closely watched.

Beijing is welcoming Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad as he rounds off his trip to China with meetings in the capital. Mahathir is looking to build on trading ties between the countries which have strengthened considerably in the past decade. His visit to Hangzhou and the headquarters of tech giant Alibaba at the weekend suggest innovative industries could be a new area of cooperation. 

John Bolton, the US national security adviser, will meet representatives from several countries on a tour of Europe this week. Most notable is planned talks with Russian officials in Geneva, billed as a follow-up to the Helsinki summit between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Syria, Ukraine and arms control are likely to be on the agenda in a meeting that takes place as US sanctions on Moscow over its alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK take effect.

Monday: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad rounds off his visit to China with meetings in Beijing, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa continues a 10-day trip to China, trade officials from the US and EU meet in Washington, public hearings begin into the US plan to impose 25 percent tariffs on 200 billion US dollars' worth of Chinese goods, and a new currency starts circulating in Venezuela.

Tuesday: Russia's State Duma holds hearings on the proposal to raise the country's retirement age, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee probes US-Russia relations in Washington, and British and EU negotiators will meet in Brussels to kickstart Brexit talks.

Wednesday: US sanctions on Russia over the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK go into effect as Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in Sochi, and the Zimbabwean opposition’s challenge against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s election victory will be heard in the constitutional court in Harare.

Thursday: The second round of US tariffs on 16 billion dollars' worth of Chinese imports is scheduled to take effect, China says it will retaliate, the UN Security Council discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel starts a three-day trip to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Friday: South Korea's appeals court is to rule on former President Park Geun-hye's corruption and abuse of power convictions, and US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at the Jackson Hole economic symposium.

Saturday: A quiet political day.

Sunday: The 50th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting takes place in Singapore, and Colombia holds a popular consultation on measures including cutting congressional salaries and boosting sentences for corruption.