Biden's last APEC leaders summit is underway

The host of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit wasn’t waiting on President Joe Biden to get the gathering underway on Friday.

When Peruvian President Dina Boluarte began her opening speech to assembled leaders in Lima, Biden’s seat was empty.

It was a few minutes into her remarks that Biden entered the room, walked around the large circular table and took his seat to listen to her speech about advancing economic opportunities in the Pacific region.

The opening session had been delayed amid a backlog of leaders arriving the summit site, and the US president is usually the last to arrive.

When he sat down, Biden quietly greeted the leaders of Thailand and Vietnam before putting in a translation headset. As the press was departing, Biden engaged in some friendly conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

And then the cameras went dark, as the rest of the discussion will take place behind closed doors.

The US president isn’t expected to speak during the first session, which is billed as an “informal dialogue” by the organizers. It’s the final APEC summit for Biden as he prepares to depart office in a few months.