Global Political Calendar: MBS in China, trade talks move to U.S.

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Talks between China and the U.S. continue in Washington, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman meets President Xi Jinping, elections are held in Nigeria and Senegal, and tensions between India and Pakistan are in the spotlight.

Countdown to tariff deadline

China and the United States resume trade talks in Washington this week after what President Xi Jinping described as "important progress" during discussions in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. Consensus in principle was reached on major issues, according to Xinhua, and specific discussions about a memorandum of understanding on bilateral economic and trade issues were held.

That sets up key negotiations in the U.S. capital this week, with tariff rates on 200 billion U.S. dollars of Chinese goods due to be increased from 10 percent to 25 percent a week on Friday if a deal or delay isn't agreed.

A countdown on auto tariffs could also begin this week, with the U.S. Commerce Department set to issue a report which could lead to additional levies on countries such as Germany and Japan. U.S. President Donald Trump will have 90 days to decide whether to implement the report's recommendations.

MBS visits China

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman visits Pakistan, India and China this week, as Saudi Arabia looks to further strengthen ties with Asian nations.

President Xi Jinping will meet with Bin Salman during his two-day visit to China, foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced on Friday, and several memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed at the third meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia High-Level Joint Committee, co-chaired by Vice Premier Han Zheng and the crown prince.

Bilateral investment deals are set to be announced on Bin Salman's visits to Pakistan and India, but scheduled trips to Indonesia and Malaysia have been postponed.

India-Pakistan strains

Tensions between India and Pakistan reignited last week with the death of 40 Indian paramilitary police in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the deadliest bombing in the disputed region for three decades in an attack claimed by the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group.

An intense diplomatic row followed, with Pakistan rejecting Indian allegations of involvement and India vowing to take "all possible diplomatic steps" to isolate its neighbor. The dispute could be further inflamed this week, with India on Monday expected to ask the International Court of Justice to annul the sentence of an alleged Indian spy condemned to death in Pakistan.

Nigeria and Senegal, Japan and Cuba

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria, rescheduled from February 16 to 23 just hours before voting was due to begin, will be closely watched this week. The battle for the top job between President Muhammadu Buhari and main challenger Atiku Abubakar is thought to be tight, and the delay to the vote could increase tensions.

Senegal will also vote for a new president this week, with five candidates – including incumbent President Macky Sall – on the ballot, in an election campaign that has been marred by violence.

An intriguing referendum will be held on the Japanese island of Okinawa, where residents will on Sunday cast ballots on the relocation of the controversial Futenma U.S. military base, while Cubans will on the same day give their verdict on changes to the country's constitution.

Day-by-day

Monday: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman visits Pakistan, Argentinian PM Mauricio Macri is due in India, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina travels to the United Arab Emirates, Singapore's latest budget is unveiled, high-level Brexit talks resume, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is due in Brussels to meet with EU leaders on trade, the ICJ holds hearings on an alleged Indian spy condemned to death in Pakistan, and the Slovakian, Polish, Hungarian and Czech PMs visit Israel.

Tuesday: Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic begin official visits to China, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman travels to India, the UN Security Council discusses Yemen, and the German and French finance ministers deliver speeches on the future of Europe.

Wednesday: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual State of the Union address, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni sets out a South African budget for 2019, and U.S. President Donald Trump holds talks with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Washington.

Thursday: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrives in China, Indian PM Narendra Modi visits South Korea for talks with President Moon Jae-in, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits Russia, EU trade ministers hold talks amid the threat of U.S. auto tariffs, and UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn meets EU Brexit negotiators.

Friday: Australian PM Scott Morrison is due in New Zealand for talks with counterpart Jacinda Ardern, while French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe visits Mali.

Saturday: Delayed presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria are scheduled, and South Africa's Democratic Alliance party launches its electoral program ahead of polls in May.

Sunday: A referendum is held in Okinawa on the relocation of a U.S. airbase on the Japanese island, the first Arab League-EU Summit begins in Egypt, a referendum on Cuba's constitution takes place, Senegal votes for a new president, and Moldova goes to the polls in parliamentary elections.