Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Trudeau arrives in Golden State for APEC summit in San Francisco

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Nov, 2023 05:15 PM
  • Trudeau arrives in Golden State for APEC summit in San Francisco

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touched down Wednesday in northern California to begin three days of meetings with fellow leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in San Francisco. 

The government's newly acquired Airbus CC-330 taxied to a stop at San Francisco International Airport, where Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., led a coterie of emissaries who greeted the prime minister as he disembarked. 

The iconic motorcycle cops of the California Highway Patrol accompanied the prime minister's motorcade, sirens blaring, to the edge of the security zone where the summit is being held. 

Trudeau's first order of business was a bilateral meeting with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a kindred Liberal spirit whose efforts to combat climate change have made him a prominent and valuable ally. 

From there, Trudeau was to attend a roundtable discussion about food affordability, then appear at an APEC reception hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden later in the day before a welcome dinner with tech leaders. 

U.S. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, was sitting  down with Chinese President Xi Jinping in an effort to defuse a year of international tensions, a meeting widely seen as the focal point of the summit. 

Reports suggest the two leaders were working on a deal to resume bilateral military communications and keeping artificial intelligence out of their respective nuclear defence systems. 

Trudeau, meanwhile, will be aiming for tangible progress on policy priorities in the Indo-Pacific, during bilateral meetings with fellow APEC leaders.

Federal officials say at least two bilateral economic initiatives with key Indo-Pacific partners will be on Canada's "deliverables" list. 

The absence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also makes it unlikely there will be much drama surrounding Trudeau's allegations of a link between agents of India's government and the June shooting death of a prominent Sikh leader in B.C. 

"Modi is not there, so India is not there," said Andreas Schotter, an associate business professor at Western University.

"It's been reported as giving the prime minister a chance to avoid the discussion about the issue, but I don't think it's a good thing. I think a meeting would have been better than avoiding it."

There's still plenty of important work for Canada to do at APEC, officials say: It's vital to be at the table in a part of the world where the decisions that are made are likely to affect Canadians for generations. 

The main goals for Trudeau include deeper collaboration with APEC nations that will foster middle-class growth and healthy regional competition, all with an eye toward advancing the fight against climate change. 

Officials say Trudeau will promote new Canadian efforts to foster more efficient food production and healthier supply chains, as well as removing trade barriers with countries in the Pacific Rim.  

The region accounts for about half of the world's merchandise trade, and is the destination for more than 88 per cent of Canadian exports. APEC's merchandise exports and imports alike now both exceed US$12 trillion annually.  

Canada's share of that pie reached $1.3 trillion last year, an increase of 22 per cent, thanks to partners that include the U.S., China, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. 

The summit comes one year after the Liberal government launched a new $2.3-billion Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at fortifying regional alliances as a hedge against China's expansive power. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Shooting suspect arrest:Richmond RCMP

Shooting suspect arrest:Richmond RCMP
R-C-M-P in Richmond say they have arrested a man who fired several shots from the window of a ride-share vehicle in Richmond. A statement from Richmond Mounties says the man was picked up yesterday in Surrey, but it doesn't say whether charges have been laid, although it confirms the investigation remains active.

Shooting suspect arrest:Richmond RCMP

Aggravated assault charges for Chinatown stabbing suspect

Aggravated assault charges for Chinatown stabbing suspect
The man accused of stabbing three people during a festival in Vancouver's Chinatown last Sunday has appeared in provincial court in Vancouver, charged with three counts of aggravated assault. Sixty-four-year-old Blair Donnelly was wearing a red prison-type jump suit when he appeared this morning via video link from the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital where he remains in custody.

Aggravated assault charges for Chinatown stabbing suspect

Police identify both victims, elderly suspect in Chilliwack shootings

Police identify both victims, elderly suspect in Chilliwack shootings
Homicide detectives have identified two people found dead in a home in rural Chilliwack on Wednesday and say an elderly suspect has been charged. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says 58-year-old John Kavaloff and 67-year-old Valerie Smith were found in the home as officers responded to reports of gunfire.

Police identify both victims, elderly suspect in Chilliwack shootings

Environment Canada extends hurricane watch to Halifax as Lee creeps closer

Environment Canada extends hurricane watch to Halifax as Lee creeps closer
Boats were being pulled out of the water in Nova Scotia Friday as forecasters warned hurricane Lee could soon bring damaging winds, large waves, flooding and power outages. Jennifer Chandler, commodore at the Chester Yacht Club, said she and her team have been working for days to prepare for what she anticipates will be a "significant storm." 

Environment Canada extends hurricane watch to Halifax as Lee creeps closer

Ng won't confirm status of 'Team Canada' mission to India amid strained relations

Ng won't confirm status of 'Team Canada' mission to India amid strained relations
Ng is scheduled to lead a five-day "Team Canada" trade mission to Mumbai with leaders from Canadian businesses and provinces, leaving on Oct. 9. The trade mission, the first in Asia under Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, is focused on boosting Canadian clean-technology companies as a way to help meet India's need for renewable energy.

Ng won't confirm status of 'Team Canada' mission to India amid strained relations

Vancouver council approves zoning to allow multiplex units in most neighbourhoods

Vancouver council approves zoning to allow multiplex units in most neighbourhoods
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says the city has taken a "huge step" toward "housing attainability" by approving multiplex units in single-family neighbourhoods, but critics of the plan argue the step is little more than a shuffle. Councillors unanimously endorsed a motion Thursday night that creates a single residential zone across most of the city, clearing the way for what supporters call "missing middle" housing.

Vancouver council approves zoning to allow multiplex units in most neighbourhoods