APEC includes 21 countries. It was established in 1989 to encourage trade. Officially, this forum does not bring together "countries" but "economies."

Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group are divided over their response to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum - which includes Russia, China and the United States - did not mention any conflict in their final joint declaration, yesterday, Friday.

At the conclusion of their multi-day meeting in San Francisco (California), the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization published a separate statement on the hot geopolitical issues of the moment.

Regarding the “crisis in Gaza,” this text noted that member states, including competing major powers such as the United States, China or Russia, as well as Muslim countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, had “exchanged their views.”

Some leaders also “exchanged the unified messages issued by the joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2023,” which accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the statement stated that no agreement had been reached.

Russia was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, the highest-ranking Russian figure to visit the United States since the beginning of the war.

APEC also issued the "Golden Gate Declaration", which was reached by consensus. The forum's member states pledged to "encourage economic growth, while at the same time responding to environmental challenges such as climate change."

It is noteworthy that APEC, a group of 21 countries, was established in 1989 to encourage trade. Officially, this forum does not bring together “countries” but “economies.”

(Arab48)