Chinese President Xi Jinping (fifth from left) and other participants pose for a "family photo" during the 2018 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

The annual APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders will go virtual in 2021 to avoid travel risks associated with the global coronavirus pandemic, 2021 hosts New Zealand said Tuesday.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement that holding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit online, instead of in Auckland, was a "pragmatic" response to the crisis.

More than 20,000 people were expected to visit New Zealand for the 21-member summit in November 2021 and numerous lead-in meetings.

The decision to go virtual also eases a logistical headache for organizers, who were struggling to find sufficient hotel rooms in Auckland after construction of the planned venue was delayed by a huge fire in October 2019.

AFP