The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum concluded on Saturday in Lima, Peru, after two days of discussions that largely revolved around generalities rather than concrete strategies for the region’s major economies. The summit ended with a sense of détente that many attendees fear may not be replicated in the coming years, especially with the impending leadership of President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to withdraw the United States from its role in global free trade initiatives.
Leaders from 21 economies surrounding the Pacific, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, gathered for this annual event at a time of heightened geopolitical tension. Trump’s election has raised concerns about the future of U.S. engagement in the region and the potential rollback of collaborative trade efforts.
Notably, Biden’s late arrival for the traditional APEC family photo seemed to symbolize the shifting dynamics, as other leaders waited awkwardly for several minutes before he took his place at the back of the group, flanked by Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong.
Xi Jinping positioned himself prominently at the summit, standing front and center next to Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. Throughout the event, Xi championed globalization, inaugurating a $1.3 billion megaport in Peru that aims to become South America’s largest shipping hub. In his address delivered by a minister, Xi urged APEC members to “tear down the walls impeding the flow of trade” and criticized tariffs, which Trump has threatened to impose on Chinese imports, as a regressive step.
During the photo opportunity, all leaders donned traditional Peruvian wool scarves, a customary gesture reflecting the host country’s culture. While the arrangement of leaders typically follows an alphabetical order, this year’s placement varied, highlighting the informal nature of the gathering.
As Biden departed the stage on Friday, reporters pressed him about the significance of this being his last APEC summit and one of his final major international engagements as president. Biden had hoped to use APEC and the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro to showcase a legacy of diplomatic achievements.
However, following his party’s recent electoral setbacks and the uncertain future of U.S.-China relations, Biden faced challenges in Lima. He sought to reinforce alliances with South Korea and Japan, expressing concerns over what he described as “dangerous and destabilizing cooperation” between North Korea and Russia.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has enjoyed a stable partnership with the U.S. in recent years, is now navigating the complexities of potential engagement with Trump. Ishiba indicated that a hoped-for meeting with Trump on his return from the G-20 summit would not occur, citing legal restrictions from Trump’s team.
“We are considering holding a meeting as soon as possible at a time that is most convenient for both sides,” Ishiba stated.
Later on Saturday, Biden and Xi held their third and final meeting of Biden’s presidency, where Xi expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with the incoming administration. Biden adopted a conciliatory tone, emphasizing that direct talks are essential to prevent competition between the two nations from escalating into conflict.
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