Malaysia rejects US plan to host APEC in January

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia has rejected a U.S. plan to host an Asia-Pacific trade summit in January, after Chile scrapped the December meeting over violent anti-government protests.

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah didn’t give any reason but Malaysia is next year’s host for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Saifuddin said Thursday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had sought his views on Malaysia’s position to a possible APEC meeting in the U.S. in January during a recent regional summit in Bangkok.

He said he told the U.S. that “we do not think this is a good idea.”

He said President Donald Trump had also sent an invitation to Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad but that he wasn’t privy to it.

He added that “if it’s about APEC, the answer is no.”