Asia-Pacific leaders warned global growth is too weak as they pledged to boost trade and investment while avoiding protectionism to support their economies.
As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum concluded in Bali, leaders released a statement saying they will drive a global recovery, in part by implementing "prudent and responsible" economic policies. Many of them will now head to Brunei for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Leaders of the APEC nations sought momentum at the talks for a variety of trade deals, in particular the Trans-Pacific Partnership, to shore up their economies as an uneven global recovery and volatility in financial markets constrain growth. The statement did not mention progress on specific pacts with the meeting overshadowed by the absence of U.S. President Barack Obama and as several leaders warned the 12-nation TPP may miss a yearend deadline for completion.
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