New Zealand To Host Virtual APEC In 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- New Zealand’s hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2021 will go ahead using virtual digital platforms, its Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker announced Tuesday. Peters said the global disruption caused by COVID-19, including resultant border restrictions, had been the major factor in the decision. “COVID-19 has seriously impacted how we conduct international diplomacy. That includes hosting APEC. As has occurred with many other international government-to-government events, APEC21 will proceed using virtual digital platforms. “Given the current global environment, planning to have such a large volume of high-level visitors in New Zealand from late 2020 onwards is impractical,” Peters said in a statement. “For planning and security reasons, we had to make a call on our APEC hosting now. It wasn’t practical to wait for many more months until a clearer picture of the virus’ spread emerged. “While Leaders’ Week isn’t till November 2021, if we had hosted an in-person APEC we would have seen thousands of people entering NZ from late 2020 onwards, some from COVID-19 hotspots. We simply couldn’t guarantee these people would be able to enter New Zealand without being quarantined. “This decision to ‘go virtual’ is a pragmatic solution which preserves New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to host APEC 2021,” said Peters. Meanwhile, Parker said APEC, as the leading economic and trade forum in the Asia-Pacific region, “has an important role to play as we and the rest of the Asia Pacific region work to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, especially its economic impacts.” “Deciding now on the different format of the APEC meetings gives certainty and allows us to focus on achieving meaningful outcomes through virtual means for New Zealand and the APEC membership. “We will continue to look to find ways to showcase New Zealand and leverage the virtual hosting of APEC to our national advantage,” he added. Malaysia is the current APEC host. This is the second time Malaysia is hosting APEC since 1998. The APEC Economic Leaders Meeting is scheduled to be held in November but from now all meetings will be conducted virtually. APEC is an inter-governmental forum comprising 21 economies that promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC region is an economic juggernaut, nearly tripling the size of its economy since the forum's launch in 1989. The economies make up 40 per cent of the world's population, 60 per cent of its gross domestic product and 50 per cent of the total trade, according to the summit organisers. -- BERNAMA