Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba missed a group photo session at the APEC summit in Peru's capital of Lima, with the top government spokesman saying Monday that he was delayed in a traffic jam on his way back from visiting a grave.
According to the Kyodo News Agency, the session Saturday proceeded without Ishiba, with leaders such as United States (US) President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in attendance.
While Xi was positioned near the centre at the front, Biden, who will step down in January, stood toward the back.