APEC fails to reach consensus as U.S.-China divide deepens

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill speaks as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Chief Executive Officer, Chris Hawkins listens during a media conference at the end of the APEC forum in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, November 18, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray

PORT MORESBY (Reuters) - Asia-Pacific leaders failed to agree on a communique at a summit in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for the first time in their history as deep divisions between the United States and China over trade and investment stymied cooperation.

Competition between the United States and China over the Pacific was also thrown into focus with the United States and its Western allies launching a coordinated response to China's Belt and Road programme.