Govt rejects US plan to host Apec

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has rejected a US plan to host an Asia-Pacific trade summit in January, after Chile scrapped the November meeting over violent anti-government protests.

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah didn’t give any reason for the rejection yesterday but Malaysia is next year’s host for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Chile’s sudden withdrawal upset a US plan to sign a modest trade agreement with China on the sidelines of the Nov 16-17 meeting.

Mr Saifuddin said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had sought his views on Malaysia’s position to a possible Apec meeting in the US in January during a recent regional summit in Bangkok.

“I have informed the American officials while they were in Bangkok that we do not think this is a good idea,’’ he said.

President Donald Trump had also sent an invitation through his envoy to Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad during the Bangkok meeting but Mr Saifuddin said he wasn’t privy to it.

“If it’s about Apec, the answer is no,’’ he added, without elaborating.

Apart from Apec, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera also called off a UN global climate summit in December to respond to widespread protests over economic inequality that have left more than a dozen people dead, hundreds injured and businesses and infrastructure damaged.

The UN climate meeting was quickly rescheduled for Madrid on Dec 2-13.

White House officials have previously indicated they are scouring for other locations as Mr Trump still aims to sign the deal with President Xi Jinping.