What can we expect at Bangkok’s APEC forum?

This week, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand.

What can we expect at Bangkok’s APEC forum?
Delegates walk inside the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center where the APEC summit will be held, in Bangkok, Thailand, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

The Asia-Pacific region has seen a lot of rising tensions lately, with friction between the US and China causing concern. The US has been strengthening its involvement with allies there, like South Korea and Japan, as China gains more economic and military influence in the area.

This week, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand. And on Thursday, officials from 21 APAC economies gathered for their first in-person summit in four years. Like with G20 and COP27, there will be a lot of talk about climate change, the war in Ukraine and global inflation. We can also expect discussion on trade, the supply chain, vaccines, increasing international travel, economic reform and supporting indigenous economy.

Chinese President Xi is making efforts to repair ties with US allies, even while sharing competing security and development models for Asia. US Vice President Kamala Harris is standing in for Biden at the meeting and will also be visiting the Philippine islands of Palawan on the edge of the disputed South China Sea next Tuesday.

Key comments:

"No attempt to wage a new cold war will ever be allowed by the people or by our times," China's President Xi said in written remarks for an event related to the summit.

"The central message of her remarks will be that the United States has an enduring economic commitment to the Indo-Pacific, and there is no better partner for the economies and companies of the Indo-Pacific than the United States of America," a White House official said about Vice President Kamala Harris' speech.

"Today's meeting was a good start to a dialogue toward a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship," Japan's Prime Minister Kishida said after talks that lasted about 45 minutes.