Asia-Pacific leaders called today for open and multilateral trade to support a global economy battered by the novel coronavirus, and some hoped for more engagement with the United States under a Joe Biden administration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, among the leaders at a virtual meeting of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, rejected protectionism and said globalisation was "irreversible", a day before US President Donald Trump was expected to join in the gathering.

"We will not reverse course or run against the historical trend by 'decoupling' or forming a small circle to keep others out," Xi said at a forum ahead of the...