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Report by Tribunnews reporter Nur Febriana Trinugraheni

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, BANGKOK – World leaders have arrived at Thailand today, Thursday (17/11/2022), to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit amid geopolitical tensions related to the war in Ukraine.

The APEC Forum, which kicked off on Friday (18/11/2022), was formally convened to promote regional economic integration, but this meeting is expected to be dominated by discussions on the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war .

According to Al Jazeera, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were among the leaders who attended the meeting.

Read also : President Jokowi arrives in Bangkok to attend APEC summit

The bilateral meeting between Xi and Kishida, whose relations are strained over historical and security issues, is one of several high-level meetings taking place on the sidelines of the APEC forum.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have also confirmed that they will hold one-on-one talks with Xi Jinping.

While the US President Joe Biden was unable to attend the forum as he was to attend his grandson’s wedding and will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris.

President of Russia Vladimir Poutinewho missed this week’s G20 meeting in Bali, is also unable to attend and will be represented by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov.

The two-day APEC forum comes a day after G20 countries unanimously adopted a statement saying most members condemn the war in Ukraine, while some countries admit they view the conflict differently .

Further division was seen at the G20 summit when Xi Jinping was filmed berating Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for allegedly leaking their private conversations.

Thailand, as host of the G20 summit in Indonesia, tried to minimize divisions among the 21 APEC members and highlighted the potential for cooperation for common interests.

Read also : APEC cuts economic growth estimates due to soaring inflation and war in Ukraine

At a pre-summit event, Prime Minister Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha, said the meeting would focus on the new trade and investment narrative and the need to reconnect supply chains and travel, as well as global sustainability.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Thailand Don Pramudwinai today also expressed concern over the growing mentality that pervades every conversation and action and makes compromise impossible.

“That’s why this year’s APEC must overcome these challenges and convey hope to the world at large that, working together, we have room to win and prosper,” Don told a meeting of ministers. of Foreign Affairs and Trade.