Apec leaders look to boost virus coordination

[WELLINGTON] Global leaders including US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping held a virtual Apec meeting Friday to discuss how the world could best emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, even as nations continue to grapple with a deadly resurgence of virus cases.

Leaders discussed ways to speed the flow of vaccines across borders and whether vaccine passports or quarantine bubbles could ease transit between nations, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose country is chairing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation this year, told reporters.

Countries are concerned "this pandemic has a while to run," Ms Ardern said.

Apec also reiterated its belief that markets should remain open despite the virus, she said. The 21-member group includes the US, China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and Canada, as well Southeast Asian and Pacific-facing countries.

The meeting came as Apec countries from Indonesia and Malaysia to Thailand and Japan face rising coronavirus caseloads, and as Hong Kong and Singapore struggle to reopen their economies at a pace that matches New York and London. Southeast Asia is experiencing one of the worst virus situations in the world right now, with deaths surging by 39 per cent in the seven days through Wednesday, the fastest increase globally.

The private virtual meeting was also expected to reflect tensions between the US and China, who continue to spar on everything from human rights to technology. The White House is discussing whether to move ahead with plans for a digital trade agreement covering Indo-Pacific economies to counter Beijing's influence, while it hits out China over its policies in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

But Ms Ardern insisted there were no tensions between Mr Biden and Mr Xi on display as the world leaders discussed the virus response.

Ahead of the meeting, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Mr Biden would share his vision for a "free and open Indo-Pacific." His participation in the Apec leaders summit underscored US leadership in the region, as well as the president's commitment to multilateral institutions, she said.

A senior Biden administration official said Thursday night that the president planned to talk about the role America is playing in distributing vaccines to other countries, and to promote an economic agenda that includes a broad, lasting recovery from the pandemic.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Thursday called the meeting "an important meeting held at a critical time." "We hope all parties can uphold the vision of an Asian-Pacific community with a shared future, carry forward the Asia-Pacific partnership, send a positive message of fighting the coronavirus with solidarity, and deepening economic recovery and cooperation," Mr hao said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

Trade ministers for Apec nations had agreed in June to try and expedite the distribution of vaccines and other essential medical supplies between economies to combat the pandemic.

Mr Biden had separately met with the leaders of India, Japan and Australia in March as part of the so-called Quad group of countries, pledging to ramp up vaccine manufacturing in the region.

The outbreak in Indonesia - where hospitals are overwhelmed by Covid patients and oxygen supplies are running out - has eclipsed that in India, which shocked the world with the scale of its recent second wave. Thailand, the first place to see a virus case after China last year, is also seeing surging cases after a period of successful containment.

BLOOMBERG