SINGAPORE -- Leaders from across the Pacific Rim on Friday vowed to promote free trade and regional economic integration to drive the recovery from COVID-19, against a backdrop of simmering U.S.-China tensions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden both took part in the online annual leaders meeting of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, with each highlighting his country's contributions of COVID-19 vaccines and commitments to economic cooperation.