Asia-Pacific leaders tackle trade, sustainability in Bangkok

By CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL
Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — The Ukraine war, great power rivalry, inflation and food and energy shortages are among the troubles vying for attention at an Asia-Pacific Rim summit. The gathering, the last of three back-to-back meetings of world leaders, is the annual summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. On Thursday, foreign and commerce ministers were completing work on the yearlong effort to form a consensus on an array of often-divisive issues. The meetings are being held in Thailand’s capital in a venue ringed by riot police and cordoned off in all directions. APEC’s official mission is to promote regional economic integration. Most of the business conducted happens on the summit’s sidelines.