The China International Import Expo begins, the US votes in pivotal midterm elections, heads of global financial institutions descend on Beijing and Washington reimposes sanctions on Iran's oil exports.  

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) will top the agenda in China, with numerous heads of state or government joining more than 3,000 companies from over 130 countries and regions from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai. President Xi Jinping has said the CIIE is a symbol of China's commitment to further open up its markets, and his keynote speech on Monday will be closely watched at a critical time for global trade.

Premier Li Keqiang will host discussions on global economic trends, the preservation of the multilateral trading system, China's economy and reform and opening-up with the heads of an array of international financial organizations in Beijing on Tuesday. Leaders of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization will be among the attendees at the third Round Table Dialogue. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, meanwhile, will travel to Singapore to attend the two-day 2018 New Economy Forum.

The US votes in midterm elections on Tuesday that could change the course of the Trump presidency. All of the House of Representatives, a third of the Senate and two-thirds of state governors will be on the ballot. Polling suggests a good night for the Democrats, but the party is unlikely to have all things go its way. It's likely to reclaim the House and pick up several governor's mansions, but the Republicans are favorites to retain the Senate. Winning the House would allow the Democrats to open probes into President Trump and his administration, while a divided government would undercut Trump's domestic agenda and probably lead to a greater focus on foreign affairs. 

The second tranche of US sanctions on Iran will take effect on Monday as the Trump administration continues its "maximum pressure" strategy on Tehran. The remaining signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal continue to work to keep it alive, but the US' determination to effectively end Iranian oil exports is a severe test. Eight countries have been given temporary waivers by the US to gradually draw down imports from Iran, and the specifics are expected to be revealed on Monday. The reaction of the oil markets will be closely watched.

Monday: The China International Import Expo begins in Shanghai, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan travels to Singapore for a visit and to attend the 2018 New Economy Forum, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev continue visits to China, US sanctions on Iranian oil exports take effect, parties in Germany's coalition hold crunch meetings, and the International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa begins in Senegal.

Tuesday: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization in Beijing, the US votes in midterm elections, the New Economy Forum in Singapore begins, and the Iraqi parliament votes on prime minister's picks for cabinet.

Wednesday: Madagascar votes for a new president, and the European People's Party, the largest in the European Parliament, elects its candidate for Commission president.

Thursday: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez visits Vietnam.

Friday: European Union trade ministers meet in Brussels.

Saturday: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a ceremony at the site at which the armistice ending the First World War was signed.

Sunday: The 33rd ASEAN Summit begins in Singapore and the three-day Paris Peace Forum gets underway, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are expected to attend a ceremony in the French capital marking the centenary of the end of the First World War.