As the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit kicks off in Vietnam, the focus is on US President Donald Trump’s speech later in the day.
Mr Trump is expected to outline the future US role in the region when it comes to trade and growth.
His “America First” slogan and withdrawal from a regional trade deal is seen as move away from free trade.
He has also vowed to correct a huge trade imbalance with China and Japan.
Apec brings together 21 economies from both sides of the Pacific – the equivalent of about 60% of the world’s GDP.
Since taking office, President Trump has pulled the US out of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a major trade deal with 12 Apec member countries, arguing it would hurt US economic interests.
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Mr Trump is due make a speech at 06:30 GMT. He will be followed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Shaping a new role for the US
Jonathan Head, BBC News, Da Nang
For nearly 30 years Apec has been the venue where the United States has led the drive for freer trade and stronger business ties between the world’s most dynamic economies.
But President Trump’s preoccupation with getting a better deal for America has changed that. He argues that decades of trade growth in the Asia-Pacific region have hurt American companies.
His opening speech at a meeting of business leaders here in Da Nang will be an opportunity for Mr Trump to outline what role he thinks the US should now play in a region which has to a large extent been shaped by past American leadership.
But member states are also exploring ways to pursue improved trade networks without the United States – and China, already a serious rival for military and diplomatic dominance in Asia, is making it clear it is prepared to take over US economic leadership too.
Balancing trade and language
The total trade relationship between the US and China was worth $648bn last year, but trade was heavily skewed in China’s favour with the US amassing a nearly $310bn deficit.
Mr Trump has in the past accused China of stealing American jobs and threatened to label it a currency manipulator, though he has since rowed back on such rhetoric.
During his state visit to Beijing on Thursday he said:
- that he did “not blame China” for “taking advantage”.
- that previous US administrations were responsible for “a very unfair and one-sided” trade relationship with China.
In response, China said it would further lower entry barriers in the banking, insurance, and finance sectors, and gradually reduce vehicle tariffs.
Mr Xi on Thursday promised “healthy” and “balanced” economic and trade relations.
Deals worth $250bn (£190bn) were also announced, although it was unclear how much of that figure included past agreements or potential future deals. At the same time, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told journalists the deals were “pretty small” in terms of tackling the trade imbalance.
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Before the Beijing talks, Mr Trump in Tokyo lashed out at Japan, saying it “has been winning” on trade in recent decades.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also be making a speech at the Apec summit. Japan had a $69bn (£52.8bn) trade surplus with the US in 2016, according to the US Treasury department.
Climate warning from New Zealand
As one of the first leaders to make a speech on Friday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said climate change was “the biggest challenge of our generation”.
“It is also the greatest challenge facing the Asia Pacific region,” she said, two weeks after having assumed office.
“We have the largest number of climate vulnerable people in the world. We are already seeing the terrible effects of climate change in our region. It is literally lapping at our feet.”
After attending the Apec summit, Mr Trump will pay a state visit to the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.
Mr Trump will end his 12-day Asian tour in the Philippines on 13 November.
Source:-BBC
