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Obama’s Absence Leaves China as Dominant Force at APEC Obama’s Absence Leaves China as Dominant Force at APEC
(35 minutes later)
NUSA DUA, Indonesia — Secretary of State John Kerry sat in the chair reserved for President Obama at the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Monday, leaving China’s leader, Xi Jinping, as the dominant leader at the gathering devoted to achieving greater economic integration in the region. NUSA DUA, Indonesia — Secretary of State John Kerry sat in the chair reserved for President Obama at the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting on Monday, leaving China’s leader, Xi Jinping, as the dominant leader at the gathering devoted to achieving greater economic integration in the region.
Mr. Obama, who canceled his appearance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting to try to resolve the government shutdown in Washington, had planned to use his personal persuasion to push forward negotiations for the trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade bloc that is led by the United States and that excludes China. Mr. Obama, who canceled his appearance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting to try to resolve the government shutdown in Washington, had planned to use his personal persuasion to push forward negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade bloc that is led by the United States and that excludes China.
A statement by APEC’s foreign and trade ministers painted a fairly gloomy economic forecast for the 21 members of the group as the leaders met at an international conference center on the Indonesian island of Bali.A statement by APEC’s foreign and trade ministers painted a fairly gloomy economic forecast for the 21 members of the group as the leaders met at an international conference center on the Indonesian island of Bali.
“Global growth is too weak, risks remain tilted to the downside, and the economic outlook suggests growth is likely to be slower and less balanced than desired,” the ministers said.“Global growth is too weak, risks remain tilted to the downside, and the economic outlook suggests growth is likely to be slower and less balanced than desired,” the ministers said.
To overcome the slow growth, it was imperative for the group to agree on a “comprehensive series of structural reforms so as to increase productivity, labor force participation and high-quality job creation.” To overcome the slow growth, it was imperative for the group to agree on a “comprehensive series of structural reforms so as to increase productivity, labor force participation and high-quality job creation,” the statement said.
According to APEC data, its members account for approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, 55 percent of global GDP and about 44 percent of world trade. Trade within APEC has grown nearly sevenfold since the group was founded in 1989, topping $11 trillion in 2011. According to APEC data, its members account for approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, 55 percent of global G.D.P. and about 44 percent of world trade. Trade within APEC has grown nearly sevenfold since the group was founded in 1989, topping $11 trillion in 2011.
The U.S. trade representative, Michael Froman, said the Obama administration remained committed to trying to complete the negotiations for the trans-Pacific Partnership by the end of the year. “Our message is: ‘Let’s get this done as soon as possible,'” Mr. Froman said in an interview. The Dec. 31 goal was “ambitious but it’s doable,” he said. The U.S. trade representative, Michael Froman, said the Obama administration remained committed to trying to complete the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership by the end of the year. “Our message is: ‘Let’s get this done as soon as possible,'” Mr. Froman said in an interview. The Dec. 31 goal was “ambitious but it’s doable,” he said.
The partnership, a major element of President Obama’s pivot toward Asia, is intended to achieve open market access among the 12 participants, including the United States, Japan, Mexico and Canada as the major economies.The partnership, a major element of President Obama’s pivot toward Asia, is intended to achieve open market access among the 12 participants, including the United States, Japan, Mexico and Canada as the major economies.
The administration was hoping that the leader of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, would announce at the meeting that South Korea was ready to join the negotiations. But South Korean officials said Mrs. Park would not make that declaration in Bali. The administration was hoping that the leader of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, would announce at the meeting that South Korea was ready to join the negotiations. But South Korean officials said Ms. Park would not make that declaration in Bali.
The absence of Mr. Obama took some gravitas out of the conference and there were deep questions about how the president could get a trade pact through the Congress given the hostility of the conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives toward his domestic programs. The absence of Mr. Obama took some gravitas out of the conference, and there were deep questions about how the president could get a trade pact through Congress given the hostility of conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives toward his domestic programs.
The prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, who maintains friendly relations with China, was the most forthright in describing the damage to the summit by Mr. Obama’s absence. “No other country can replace” the American engagement in Asia, he said. “Not China, not Japan, not any other power. That is something which we continue and encourage at every opportunity.” The prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, who maintains friendly relations with China, was the most direct in describing the damage to the summit meeting by Mr. Obama’s absence. “No other country can replace” the American engagement in Asia, he said. “Not China, not Japan, not any other power. That is something which we continue and encourage at every opportunity.”
President Clinton canceled a trip to the APEC summit in Japan in 1995, and was able to recover American prestige in the region, officials said. But the far greater competition for influence between the United States and China and the dynamic economies of Asia make the region far more important to Washington now.President Clinton canceled a trip to the APEC summit in Japan in 1995, and was able to recover American prestige in the region, officials said. But the far greater competition for influence between the United States and China and the dynamic economies of Asia make the region far more important to Washington now.
On the sidelines of the summit, Mr. Kerry met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov and the two diplomats expressed satisfaction with the progress of the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria by international disarmament inspectors. The first weapons, including missile warheads, were destroyed Sunday, Mr. Kerry said. On the sidelines of the summit meeting, Mr. Kerry met with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, and the two diplomats expressed satisfaction with the progress of the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria by international disarmament inspectors. The first weapons, including missile warheads, were destroyed Sunday, Mr. Kerry said.
“It is a good beginning and we should welcome a good beginning,” he said. The secretary also praised the cooperation of Russia and the compliance of Syria in the process.“It is a good beginning and we should welcome a good beginning,” he said. The secretary also praised the cooperation of Russia and the compliance of Syria in the process.
The two diplomats said they would push for a November start for a Geneva conference that has been called for to reach a political settlement in Syria under the auspices of the United Nations. The two diplomats said they would push for a November start for a Geneva conference to reach a political settlement in Syria under the auspices of the United Nations.
In opening remarks to the APEC leaders, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, the host nation, said the group was even more important today because its 21 member economies continued to “feel the pain” of the global economic crisis.In opening remarks to the APEC leaders, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, the host nation, said the group was even more important today because its 21 member economies continued to “feel the pain” of the global economic crisis.
“In view of the difficult global economic situation these days, it becomes even more critical for all of us to work together in maintaining regional resilience,” he said. “With this resilience, the APEC region will remain an important engine of global growth.”“In view of the difficult global economic situation these days, it becomes even more critical for all of us to work together in maintaining regional resilience,” he said. “With this resilience, the APEC region will remain an important engine of global growth.”
Mr. Yudhoyono, citing International Monetary Fund data, said on Sunday that APEC economies would grow by 6.3 percent this year and 6.6 percent in 2014.Mr. Yudhoyono, citing International Monetary Fund data, said on Sunday that APEC economies would grow by 6.3 percent this year and 6.6 percent in 2014.
A World Bank report released on Monday warned that larger middle-income countries in the East Asia and Pacific region, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, were experiencing slower growth due to lower investment and global commodity prices and lower than expected export growth. The only exception is the Philippines, where growth has accelerated in 2013, Bert Hofman, the World Banks’ chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific, said in an interview. A report released Monday by the World Bank, however, said that developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific, some of which are members of APEC, are expanding at a slower pace as China shifts from export-driven growth and focuses on domestic demand. According to the report, the growth forecast for the region’s developing countries is 7.1 percent for this year and 7.2 percent for 2014, a slight downward projection from April.
“It’s always a bit of pity if you slow down, but we see a pickup next year on the premise that the global economy will do better,” he said. “Seven percent growth for the whole region, excluding China, that’s a very decent growth rate. The East Asia and Pacific region still contributes a lot to world growth.” Growth in larger middle-income countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand is also softening due to lower investment and global commodity prices, as well as lower-than-expected export growth, the report said. The only exception is the Philippines, where growth accelerated in 2013, said Bert Hofman, the World Bank’s chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific.
One of the most important aspects of the APEC summit are the private meetings between leaders on the sidelines of the main gathering. “It’s always a bit of pity if you slow down, but we see a pickup next year on the premise that the global economy will do better,” Mr. Hofman said. “Seven percent growth for the whole region, excluding China, that’s a very decent growth rate. The East Asia and Pacific region still contributes a lot to world growth.”
The Australian leader, Tony Abbott, met Mr. Xi Sunday night for the first time since becoming prime minister. On Monday, he said he hoped a free-trade agreement between Australia and China would be completed within 12 months. One of the most important aspects of the APEC summit meeting is the private discussions between leaders on the sidelines of the main gathering.
The Australian leader, Tony Abbott, met Mr. Xi on Sunday night for the first time since becoming prime minister in September. On Monday, he said he hoped a free-trade agreement between Australia and China would be completed within 12 months.
Mr. Abbott said he planned to lead a large government and business delegation to China within the first six months of 2014, at the invitation of Mr. Xi. “The prosperity of every country in the region, including Australia, critically depends on trade and investment,” he said. “Our recent prosperity critically depends on the massive expansion of resource exports to countries in our region, particularly to China, and we want that to continue and not slow down.”Mr. Abbott said he planned to lead a large government and business delegation to China within the first six months of 2014, at the invitation of Mr. Xi. “The prosperity of every country in the region, including Australia, critically depends on trade and investment,” he said. “Our recent prosperity critically depends on the massive expansion of resource exports to countries in our region, particularly to China, and we want that to continue and not slow down.”
Mr. Abbott had planned to meet with Mr. Obama as well. The Australian leader said it was “a disappointment” that Mr. Obama had canceled his trip to APEC, but said it was understandable given the political deadlock in Washington. He said the president’s absence would not undermine the American “pivot” strategy in Asia.
“I fully understand the most constructive way America can engage with the world depends upon America being as strong as it can be at home,” Mr. Abbott said. “I don’t think anyone here holds it against the president that he has very important business at home, and it is certainly in no way inconsistent with the pivot in Asia.”
Negotiations between China and Australia were described last week as “stalled” by the Australian minister for trade and investment, Andrew Robb.Negotiations between China and Australia were described last week as “stalled” by the Australian minister for trade and investment, Andrew Robb.