The recent APEC forum in Lima, Peru, saw the participation of leaders from 21 economies, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Discussions during the summit were largely superficial, and concerns were raised about the future of global free trade, particularly with the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump and his intention to withdraw the US from its leadership role in this area.
Biden's delayed arrival to the APEC family photo highlighted the ongoing political tensions, as leaders awkwardly waited for him to join. The atmosphere at the summit reflected a fragile spirit of detente, with doubts arising about the feasibility of future cooperation.