Palestine in mind for Apec

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will raise the issue of Israeli aggression against the Palestinians at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Week 2023 in the United States, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said it was Malaysia’s responsibility to do so as it supported the Palestinians’ struggle for their homeland.

However, Anwar did not elaborate on the exact nature of the matter related to Palestine that would be raised at Apec.

He said this to the media yesterday after launching the Malaysian Palm Oil Board’s International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition 2023 (Pipoc 2023) here.

“I will discuss the developments on the issue (Palestine) and we will fulfil our duties as well as we can,” said Anwar, who confirmed he would attend Apec in the US despite calls for Malaysia to boycott the summit because of the ongoing situation in Gaza.

“We do not agree with the United States’ position (on the Israel-Palestine conflict), but it is our priority to maintain diplomatic relations, while not budging from our position on championing justice.”

Apec Leaders’ Week will be held in San Francisco from Nov 11 to 17.

A regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific, the 21 Apec member economies account for nearly 40% of the global population, nearly 50% of global trade, and more than 60% of US goods exports.

Apec’s 21 member economies comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.