New Zealand's PM Ardern calls emergency APEC meeting on COVID-19

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday that she will chair an additional "informal" meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders on July 16, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects.

"This is the first time in APEC's history that leaders have had an additional meeting at leaders' level and it reflects our desire to navigate together out of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis," Ardernsaid in a statement.