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Opinion | Apec summit: for trade to flourish, US and China must lead global peacemaking efforts
- A Xi-Biden meeting could ease US-China tensions and hopefully focus both leaders’ attention on cooperating for peace in the Israel-Gaza war
- While economic trade promotes peace, trade relationships cannot be sustained without peace
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The Apec summit, set to be held in San Francisco in mid-November, will see 21 global leaders from the Asia-Pacific and North and South America discuss ways to become more interconnected, innovative and inclusive – the economic forum’s three overarching policy priorities.
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But, in enabling conversations on the sidelines between these leaders, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum also offers its members the potential to find new ways to bolster peace processes and stabilise conflict-affected areas.
Founded in 1989, Apec is an intergovernmental forum whose members include the United States, China, Russia, the Philippines, Taipei, Chile and Mexico. The common goal is to improve the region’s economic prosperity. But, while trade promotes peace, trade relationships cannot be sustained without peace.
Some Apec members are either involved in conflicts with each other or have different opinions over the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war, the South China Sea territorial disputes, or the escalating US-China tensions. These political issues can make it challenging for Apec leaders to focus their discussions on regional trade and environmental sustainability issues.
But this year’s summit can play a pivotal role in de-escalating US-China tensions. And, with any hope, the leaders of the world’s two largest economies will take the lead in keeping the peace.
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Already, there are signals that China is interested in discussing various issues with the US.
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