Bangkok: Thailand has taken over the rotating chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from New Zealand, with the topic "Open. Connect. Balance" set as the theme for 2022.

According to sources, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed during the handover of the APEC presidency that the Maori inspired the 2021 theme of APEC, "Join, Work, Grow. Together." "Building a waka (canoe) used to include entire Maori villages cooperating toward a common aim. These waka let Maori to travel across vast oceans. Building APEC prosperity, likewise, necessitates a cooperative effort from all APEC economies in order to achieve a common aim "Jacinda expressed her thoughts.

"New Zealand is convinced that Thailand will propel the APEC canoe ahead with zeal, innovation, and originality." Thailand's Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said his country was honoured to host the APEC meetings in 2022 and that his country would continue to work and engage with the APEC economies for common growth. He urged the APEC economies to pool their strength and resolve in order to achieve the aim of creating an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful APEC community.

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