China's industrial output growth quickened slightly in November, while retail sales disappointed, keeping pressure on Beijing to ramp up stimulus for a fragile economy as it braces for more U.S. trade tariffs under a second Trump administration.

Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy.

China's industrial output accelerated to 5.4% growth in November, exceeding expectations, while retail sales slowed to 3.0%. Fixed asset investment saw a slight dip, growing at 3.3% in the first eleven months of the year.

As Donald Trump steps up his tariff threats against China, Beijing is moving to beat the next U.S. president to the punch with its own restrictions and get Washington to the negotiating table ahead of a full-blown trade war,

Donald Trump invited China's Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration in January, while the president-elect threatens massive tariffs on Chinese goods.