(VOVWORLD) - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting opened in San Francisco on Tuesday with a focus on building a sustainable and self-reliant future.
 A session of the APEC Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco (photo: AFP/VNA) |
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that the agenda will revolve around three priorities in the days ahead, including interconnectedness, innovation, and strengthening inclusivity to unleash people’s untapped potential.
Blinken said there remain many economic challenges despite recovery from the dislocations of COVID, which devastated trade, travel, and tourism. The climate crisis is exacerbating natural disasters and fueling extreme temperatures, upending supply chains, and destroying crops. The conflict in Ukraine has further undermined food and energy security.
Katherine Tai warned of the risks of unbalanced supply chains, growing injustice, economic insecurity, the worsening climate crisis, and geopolitical tensions.
The Ministerial Meeting will be followed by the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 15-17.