God Knows Best

Lahui Ako, a former diplomat, and PNG APEC Senior Official, recounts the complex, difficult, and sometimes treacherous path he faced in the world of multilateral diplomacy, both by himself, and his country, when it committed to host and chair APEC in 2018. He tells of the political barriers, the diplomatic innuendos, the financial hurdles, and the organizational complexity he encountered, from the planning phases in 2012, right up to being in the cross-fire of the nationalistic Trump officials, and China's aggressive "wolf warrior" diplomats where hard choices had to be made in November, 2018. Ultimately, there wont be a consensus APEC 2018 Leaders' Declaration, but Lahui and his team will acquit themselves well; simply, because, their God knows best.