Asia Pacific summit underway in Peru amid domestic turmoil

​​​​​​​By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are convening Wednesday in Peru until Nov. 16 to focus on formalizing economies, financing the energy transition and regulating emerging technologies and trade.

It is Peru's third time hosting the 21-economy alliance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden are attending the summit in Lima along with other world leaders that represent 60% of the global GDP and account for nearly 50% of world trade.

Xi is scheduled to inaugurate the Chinese-funded Chancay port -- a $3.5 billion complex designed to be a major commercial hub. Following the summit, he is expected to attend the G20 Summit in Brazil.

APEC was founded in 1989 to promote economic growth, technical cooperation and free trade in the Asia-Pacific region.

Leaders from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and Indonesia will also be in Peru.

Closer to home, ties between Peru and Mexico have weakened in the last three years because Mexico did not recognize the administration of President Dina Boluartes and former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador resisted passing control of the Pacific alliance to Peru.

The icy feelings were confirmed by the refusal of newly-seated Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to visit Lima for the summit.

In the backdrop of the summit, Peru is grappling with a wave of insecurity. Transporters, trade unions, university students and labor unions have planned demonstrations to protest the rising crime rate.

There have been four strikes led by the transport union since September, as drivers have been targeted by organized crime, resulting in four fatalities.

More than 60% of the 10 million residents in Lima have been under a state of emergency since September, due to the rise in crime.

The government has declared a state of emergency in Lima to address security concerns, and deployed more than 13,000 police officers. Additionally, non-working days and virtual classes have been declared to minimize disruptions during the APEC summit.