A Sign of the Times

A sign of the times.

 

The APEC Peru 2024, the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum of their leaders was held November 15-16 in Lima, Peru's capital. 

 

As is the practice, the attendees posed for a group photo on Saturday. China’s Xi Jinping was in front and center. Even Hong Kong Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu got to stand in the front row, next to the host, Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra. 

 

And Malaysia's Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim is also in the front row. 

Now, find where the US president is standing.

 

In fact, the others had to wait for five awkward minutes before a seemingly dazed Joe Biden emerged and took his place in the far back corner, standing between Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Vietnam's President Luong Cuong. Biden even briefly reached for Shinawatra’s hand to steady himself. (I bet if he had the time, he would have wanted to smell her hair too).

 

Note: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was absent from the photo-op.