Talking points

Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...

China, India return to long-delayed border talks

A long-delayed round of sensitive border talks between Chinese and Indian diplomats will take place in India from today. State Councillor Dai Bingguo and Indian National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon will attend the 15th meeting between special representatives on Sino-Indian border issues. The countries share a 2,000-kilometre border that has never been formally delimited. The talks were cancelled in November after reports that Beijing objected to a scheduled speech in New Delhi by the Dalai Lama.

Apple announces move on electronic textbooks

Apple is to make an education-related announcement at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, pushing further into a market it penetrated early on with computers that won a following among students and schools. The event will focus on electronic textbooks, the company said. It will be the first event hosted by the company since co-founder Steve Jobs died in October.

Beijing turns focus from economy to city's services

The Beijing municipal people's congress concludes its annual plenum tomorrow. It is set to adopt a development plan for the year that focuses the city's overall goal on improving the quality of its services, with less importance assigned to economic output and more given to human interests, innovation and environmental protection. That means greater efforts are planned to alleviate the notorious inner-city traffic congestion.

Spanish, French leaders to discuss EU reform

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hosts French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Madrid as he fights for a key role for his battered economy in shaping the future of Europe. Reform of the European Union treaties is expected to be the focus of their talks. EU leaders will meet informally at the end of the month to discuss the outlook for economic growth, with Greece's woes likely to be on the table. They are working on a new pact enforcing discipline on national budgets, hoping to seal it at a March 1-2 summit to calm market fears about the sovereign debt of fragile economies such as Spain.

Summit of 1,800 focuses on sustainable growth

The fifth Asian Financial Forum, with the theme 'Asia: Driving Sustainable Growth', takes place today and tomorrow at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. About 1,800 business and government leaders from around the world are expected to attend. Key issues to be discussed at the financial summit include global investment prospects, China opportunities and sustainable growth initiatives.

Republican rivals gather for key debate

Republican presidential candidates gather in Myrtle Beach for a debate that could sway voters in South Carolina before their primary on Saturday. Mitt Romney will be hoping to cement his lead after victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, but could face a stern test if the debate turns towards social issues. In a state that poses a crucial test of his ability to convince religious, cultural and economic conservatives that he is truly one of them, Romney has so far been spared a piercing inquisition on shifting positions on abortion, gay rights and health care.