WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) annual meeting in 2023, according to a White House statement on Thursday.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, in a statement, thanked the group for supporting the U.S. offer to host, saying President Joe Biden’s administration was committed to advancing fair trade, open investments and competition as part of its focus on expanding and deepening economic ties in the region.
“It is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration to serve as a strong, reliable partner to APEC economies and identify common ways to unleash economic opportunity, prosperity, and growth for us all,” she wrote.
Plans for Washington to host the multi-lateral gathering come amid ongoing tensions with China, which last year warned APEC that the Indo-Pacific region must not return to the tensions of the Cold War era.
Biden also addressed the 2021 gathering, saying he was committed to strengthening the U.S. relationship with APEC economies and urging action on the environment and global health.
APEC host New Zealand held last year’s gathering entirely online given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Thailand is scheduled to host APEC this year, while Peru hosts in 2024, the White House statement said.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
