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  Apec leaders urge ramped-up terror fight

Apec leaders urge ramped-up terror fight

AFP
Published : Nov 19, 2015, 11:24 pm IST
Updated : Nov 19, 2015, 11:24 pm IST

Asia Pacific leaders called Thursday for more global cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, as a wave of deadly attacks claimed by the ISIS group dominated the final day of a regional trade su

Protesters burn an effigy of an American eagle during a demonstration against the Apec Summit in Manila. (Photo: AFP)
 Protesters burn an effigy of an American eagle during a demonstration against the Apec Summit in Manila. (Photo: AFP)

Asia Pacific leaders called Thursday for more global cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, as a wave of deadly attacks claimed by the ISIS group dominated the final day of a regional trade summit.

The annual 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) gathering — hosted this year by the Philippines — is meant to forge trade unity but often finds itself sidetracked by other events. This week US President Barack Obama has sought to bolster allies locked in a territorial row with China over the South China Sea, which is home to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

The spectre of terrorism has also hung heavily over the gathering, with France, Russia and Lebanon all reeling from devastating assaults on their citizens that the ISIS group says it carried out. “We strongly condemn all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all their forms and manifestations,” the leaders, which included Mr Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, said in an end-of-summit declaration.

“We will not allow terrorism to threaten the fundamental values that underpin our free and open economies. We stress the urgent need for increased international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against terrorism.” Earlier in the day Mr Xi spoke out to condemn the murder of a Chinese hostage by the ISIS which also claimed to have killed a Norwegian.

“Terrorism is the common enemy of human beings,” Mr Xi said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The ISIS group was also a top concern when Mr Obama met newly-elected Can-adian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the summit. Mr Trud-eau, who has vowed to pull out Canada’s fighter jets from Iraq and Syria, said his country would remain “a strong member of the coalition” against ISIS.

The populous and economically vibrant Asia Pacific region has largely been spared attacks by the Syria and Iraq based ISIS group. But some Apec members, such as Indon-esia, Malaysia and Singa-pore, fear their nationals fighting for the group might one day return and wreak havoc at home.

Meanwhile, the riot police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in the Philippine capital Thursday in clashes close to a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. With clenched fists in the air, the protesters chanted “Junk APEC”, referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group of 21 economies whose leaders were meeting in Manila.

The protesters said they opposed Apec’s free-trade agenda because it favoured big corporations and neglected the poor.

Location: Philippines, National Capital Reg, Manila