Talking points

President Xi Jinping sets off today for the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum summit in Bali, Indonesia. Separately, Xi will have bilateral discussions with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on issues including economic development, defence and security, and maritime and fisheries matters. Beijing said Xi has no plans to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the Apec summit, as ties remain strained over territorial disputes in the East China Sea.

Illicit trade has been in the spotlight recently, with law enforcement officials making multimillion-dollar seizures of drugs, contraband cigarettes, endangered species, and counterfeit goods. Cross-border criminal syndicates are often behind the illicit cigarette trade, with Hong Kong one of the worst affected areas. It's a cause of violent crime and economic losses, say visiting experts who will brief business and community leaders on the problem during an American Chamber of Commerce event.