The leaders' summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has concluded in Lima with the aim of protecting free trade against pressures from those looking to limit it, with the elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, standing out as one of the invisible protagonists of the forum.
During the event, the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, called on leaders not to backtrack on the transition to green economies and on multilateralism, referring to Trump's stances, who opposes green transition policies and advocates for greater trade protectionism.
Trump's shadow was present throughout the two days of debate at the Lima summit, with calls against protectionism and in favor of a rules-based multilateral trading system. In this regard, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned about the risks of blocking economic cooperation and dismantling global interdependence.
Xi Jinping's presence was also notable at the summit, especially with the inauguration of the Chancay megaport in Peru, built with Chinese capital. Xi highlighted China's interest in continuing to influence Peru and the region, taking on the mission of promoting economic advancement in Asia-Pacific.
In the context of the summit, APEC reaffirmed its commitment to free trade and the need to adapt to global changes, emphasizing rules-based multilateral trade. Leaders supported the Ichma Declaration and signed the Lima Roadmap, promoting a regional trade and investment environment that responds to emerging challenges.
The presence of Joe Biden at his last summit as President of the United States was significant, highlighting the unity with Japan and South Korea against territorial pressures from China and North Korea. Biden announced the increase of U.S. cooperation with Peru and the donation of 65 million dollars to combat drug trafficking, as well as the exploration of launching sounding rockets from Peru in collaboration with NASA.
