The 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will start its two-day summit in Bangkok on Friday.
Leaders are expected to discuss regional economic issues such as facilitating trade and investment, but a consensus view on Russia's invasion of Ukraine could prove elusive.

Thailand will chair the summit, and Japan, Russia, the United States and China are among the participants.

US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend on behalf of President Joe Biden. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be absent but his first deputy prime minister will attend.

Ministers from the 21 economies laid the groundwork ahead of the meeting. Thailand is trying to find common ground, and is calling for new goals to achieve both economic growth and measures against climate change. These are expected to be discussed at the summit as well.

Demonstrators near the APEC venue were calling for the summit's cancellation. Protesters also demanded that Prime Minister Prayut Chan o-cha step down as the meeting's chair, and for reform of the country's monarchy.