Obama Arrives in Singapore for APEC Summit

By VOA News 14 November 2009

President Barack Obama waves after stepping off Air Force One upon arrival at Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore, 14 Nov 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived late Saturday in Singapore, where he joins leaders of Pacific Rim economies in meetings to discuss recovery from the global financial crisis and promotion of free trade.

Air Force One landed at Singapore's Paya Lebar military airbase on a flight from Japan for the latest stop of a nine-day Asian tour that will also take Mr. Obama to China and South Korea.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders have stressed that the global recovery is still fragile, and more coordinated efforts are needed to overcome protectionism and maintain stable growth.

Mr. Obama was accused by some APEC leaders Saturday of backtracking on free trade.

Mexican President Filipe Calderon singled out Washington for "going in the opposite sense of free trade." Russian President Dmitri Medvedev made the same point.

Mr. Calderon mentioned increasing "buy American" clauses in U.S. legislation.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke Saturday to propose a European Union-style model for cooperation, which he called the Asia-Pacific Community.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said a high standard regional trade agreement under the Trans-Pacific partnership would be good for America.

President Obama said Saturday the United States will engage members of the TPP, which consists of Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore.