Tag: APEC

US postpones Asia trade deal rollout after domestic fire

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 14, 2023 (AFP) – President Joe Biden’s administration signaled Monday it would postpone a draft of an Asia trade pact that had been set to be unveiled at a summit in San Francisco, after facing domestic criticism. Biden, welcoming 20 other members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to San Francisco where he will meet on the sidelines with Chinese President Xi Jinping, had been expected to announce substantial progress on […]

Quick, tidy up! They’re here: San Francisco scrambles for APEC

By Huw GRIFFITH SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 13, 2023 (AFP) – Like a housework-shy couple who suddenly discover the neighbors are dropping round, San Francisco is in tidying panic mode as it readies for thousands of influential APEC visitors. There are palpable efforts to spruce up the decaying downtown that in recent years has earned itself a reputation for open-air drug use, homelessness, litter and crime. Major streets have been swept clean, potholes newly repaired and […]

Israel-Hamas war to cloud Biden talks with Indonesia president

By Danny KEMP WILMINGTON, United States, Nov 13, 2023 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden will urge Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo to take on a larger role in resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict in talks at the White House Monday, US officials said. The meeting had been aimed at showing unity ahead of Biden’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco this week, with Washington trying to counter Beijing in the Asia-Pacific region. But […]

Presidents Biden and Xi may meet in November to try to smooth ties

WASHINGTON, Oct 30, 2023 (AFP) – The United States and China agreed Friday to work towards setting up a meeting between the two countries’ leaders next month, after President Joe Biden met Beijing’s top diplomat at the White House. Biden has invited Xi Jinping to San Francisco in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at a time of tense relations between the two powers. Xi has not yet confirmed he will come. After […]

Police, protesters clash as Bangkok hosts summit

  Bangkok, Thailand | AFP | Thai police fired rubber bullets Friday in clashes with dozens of protesters trying to march to the venue of an Asia-Pacific summit in Bangkok. Around 50 people demonstrating against the event and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha threw rocks, bottles and broken glass during half an hour of scuffles with hundreds of riot police. The incident took place near the Thai capital’s Democracy Monument, around eight kilometres (five miles) from […]

Japan PM to meet China’s Xi in Bangkok on Thursday

  Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday at an APEC gathering in Bangkok, Tokyo’s top government spokesman said Monday. “Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to hold a Japan-China summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 17th, on the occasion of the APEC summit,” Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. The leaders spoke on the phone in October 2021 after Kishida’s election, but […]

President-elect Marcos Jr to attend APEC Summit in Thailand this November

Marcos accepts the invitation of the government of Thailand to attend the planned first face-to-face APEC Summit since the Covid-19 pandemic   (Eagle News) — President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will attend the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand to be held in a face-to-face event from November 18 to 19, his office said. Marcos Jr., accepted the invitation to attend the APEC summit in November, the first to be done face-to-face since […]

APEC meeting to put climate rhetoric to the test

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Pacific Rim leaders will begin a virtual summit Friday, facing pressure to back up ambitious rhetoric on climate change and chart a path to pandemic recovery. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit brings together leaders from 21 nations, including US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Xi is among those who have talked on the sidelines of the New Zealand-hosted event, stressing the need for the […]

China’s Xi warns of ‘Cold War-era’ tensions in Asia-Pacific

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Thursday against a return to Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific, urging greater cooperation on pandemic recovery and climate change. Amid growing tensions with the United States over Taiwan, partially offset by a surprise deal between Beijing and Washington on climate, Xi said all countries in the region must work together on joint challenges. “Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on […]

New Zealand’s APEC host Ardern calls for ‘bold’ climate action

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Pacific Rim trade and foreign ministers agreed to push for a freeze on fossil fuel subsidies at a virtual summit Wednesday but host Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand said more “bold” action on climate change was needed. Ministers from the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group met online to discuss their Covid-19 response ahead of a meeting of national leaders on Saturday including US President Joe Biden and […]

New Zealand’s Ardern calls emergency APEC pandemic meeting

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern on Monday announced a hastily convened virtual meeting of APEC leaders this week to discuss the Asia-Pacific region’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic impact. Ardern is scheduled to host the annual 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit online in November, but called an additional ‘informal’ meeting for this Friday to examine immediate steps to address the crisis. “This is the first time in […]

China mulls joining trade pact dumped by Trump: Xi

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — China will consider joining a free trade pact once championed by the US but abandoned by Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping said Friday, as Beijing increasingly seeks to influence the global rules of commerce. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an updated version of a giant deal originally backed by former US president Barack Obama as an effort to counter China’s rising might in Asia. Trump […]