Investment treaty would serve Obama legacy

Under growing pressure for boots on the ground in fighting the Islamic State extremists, US President Barack Obama is facing a major challenge to his legacy.

One clearly positive thing for which he could be remembered is a bilateral investment treaty with China.

Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao said in Washington last week that he hoped President Xi Jinping and President Obama would give clear instructions to negotiating teams on both sides to advance investment treaty talks when the two leaders meet in Beijing on Nov 12.