IOP News Desk

San Francisco, Nov 16, 2023: Senior U.S. officials, ministers, thousands of delegates, business leaders, and journalists from across the Asia-Pacific region travelled to San Francisco, California from November 11-17 to participate in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW).

During AELW, President Joseph R. Biden welcomed APEC economic leaders to highlight the strength and resilience of the U.S. economy, our longstanding economic ties with the Asia-Pacific, the surge of job-creating investments from APEC economies into the United States in recent years, and the role of the U.S. economy in driving growth and innovation in the Asia-Pacific and globally.

AELW in San Francisco concludes a productive series of meetings that were held in Honolulu, Hawaii (December 2022); Palm Springs, California (February); Detroit, Michigan (May); and Seattle, Washington (August). Delegates from each of the 21 member economies will take part in high-level meetings and side events with key stakeholders covering a wide range of topics, including: supply chain resilience; science, research, and innovation; critical and emerging technology; clean energy; high-standards infrastructure; women’s economic empowerment; and inclusivity.

Key ministerial and leaders’ meetings will be held throughout the duration of AELW. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen will chair the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting from November 12-13. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai will co-chair the APEC Ministerial Meeting from November 14-15. President Joe Biden will chair the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 16-17 and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will chair the ABAC Dialogue.

The United States will be further represented by:

• Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, who will support minister-level discussions on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.
• Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, who will lead discussions on climate issues with APEC member economies.
• Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez, who will deliver the U.S. intervention at the APEC Ministerial Meeting and provide opening remarks at the APEC Ministerial lunch on Anti-Corruption. He will also meet with industry leaders to discuss the clean energy transition, the Mineral Security Partnership, and emerging technology.
• Assistant Secretaries for the Bureaus of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Economic and Business Affairs, and Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, each of whom will support meetings and lead discussions on APEC issues affecting their respective regions and areas of expertise.
• U.S. Senior Official for APEC Ambassador Matt Murray, who will attend the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting and engage with counterparts and local stakeholders from diverse sectors to foster collaboration and achieve the United States’ host year goals of creating a more interconnected, innovative, and inclusive APEC region.
• Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy Nina Hachigian, who will join discussions on how U.S. engagement with the Asia-Pacific region can best incorporate the voices of state and local governments.
• Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Sara Minkara, who will engage with APEC partners at several side events across different sectors including academic, small business, Silicon Valley companies, and non-profit organizations to encourage further integration of disability inclusion and accessibility into their internal and external operations.
• Special Representative for International Labor Affairs Kelly Fay Rodríguez, who will join Secretary Blinken, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and Ambassador Tai for discussions that will commit the United States government to support independent unions and labor rights in our diplomatic and economic engagement around the world.

These meetings will lay the groundwork for continued cooperation in APEC following our host year and will play a crucial role in solidifying this year’s APEC theme of “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All” for years to come.

The United States will also be passing the APEC host year responsibilities to Peru as the host of APEC in 2024.

The United States is committed to hosting a productive and meaningful AELW and looks forward to welcoming APEC economies to San Francisco to continue this important work.