Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the US is considering hosting an Apec summit in Malaysia in January after Chile pulled out. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — The United States is considering hosting an Apec summit in the country in January after Chile pulled out, Malaysia’s foreign minister said today citing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Chile cancelled the November 16-17 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit because of violent protests. Malaysia is the host of the next Apec summit scheduled for end-2020.
“Secretary Pompeo made a call to me while we were in Bangkok asking for Malaysia’s position, because Chile is not able to host Apec this November and that the US is thinking of hosting Apec sometime in January in the US,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah told reporters.
“But I have informed the American officials who were in Bangkok that we don’t think it’s a good idea.”
He did not elaborate.
The US embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Abdullah was in Bangkok earlier this month for the East Asian Summit and a meeting of the United States with Southeast Asian leaders. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross was the highest-ranking official in the US delegation. — Reuters
