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Jacinda Ardern’s APEC Diplomacy

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Jacinda Ardern’s APEC Diplomacy

The meeting further built the New Zealand prime minister’s reputation as a pragmatist and a coalition builder.

Jacinda Ardern’s APEC Diplomacy
Credit: Facebook/ APEC

Friday’s special virtual APEC summit was so modest in its aims that it was officially referred to only as an “informal leaders’ retreat on COVID-19.” From the outset, host Jacinda Ardern dampened down expectations for the meeting, warning reporters not to expect any significant breakthroughs.

In that respect, New Zealand’s prime minister was right. A joint statement issued after the meeting included vague commitments to accelerate the production and distribution of vaccines. There was also agreement on the need to restore international travel links and strengthen supply chains that had been disrupted by the pandemic.

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