A dispute over the wars in Gaza and Ukraine has erupted at a major economic summit after countries including Australia tried to air their concerns about the conflicts, only to be blocked by Russia and China.

The dispute undercut attempts to gain a consensus at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Peru, where United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for what is almost certainly the last time before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Retreat meeting, in Lima, Peru, on Saturday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported the two wars being addressed at the APEC gathering, but the host of the meeting, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, admitted the failure to reach an agreement.

“In the context of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting that took place in Lima, some economies expressed their views on Russia and Ukraine and the situation in Gaza,” Boluarte said in a chair’s statement at the end of the summit.

“Some economies considered that these issues have an impact on the global economy and could be treated in APEC, while other economies do not believe that APEC is a forum to discuss........

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