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Joint statement by APEC ministers stymied by geopolitics — Russian deputy minister

The diplomat did not specify whether the disputes were about Ukraine

SAN FRANCISCO, November 16. /TASS/. The joint statement of foreign and trade ministries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit is still being finalized amid disputes over geopolitical issues, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said in an interview with TASS.

"Formally, the joint meeting of the foreign and trade ministers is over, that is, all discussions and other formats have been held, but the final joint statement is still being finalized. I don't want to reveal all the subtleties of the quiet diplomacy that is going on there right now. But the disputes, of course, are mainly centered on geopolitical issues," he said.

The diplomat did not specify whether the disputes were about Ukraine. Pankin said he hoped that the sides will reach an agreement about the statement.

"But it should be a consensus-based statement," he stated. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We appeal to reason with our partners, who should understand that APEC as a forum is wonderful because it is about a depoliticized dialogue on specific things, which these discussions have confirmed: dialogue with business, participation of international economic organizations and business associations, which bring news from the ground and a reality check to the conversation between ministers."

The APEC summit is taking place from November 15-17. The Russian delegation is led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.

APEC comprises 19 economies and 2 territories. Among them are the 12 founding members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and the United States. Other members are China (joined in 1991), Mexico and Papua New Guinea (1993), Chile (1994), Russia, Vietnam and Peru (1998). Two Chinese territories, Hong Kong and Taiwan, joined APEC in 1991.

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