The U.S President Barack Obama has joined 20 other world leaders in Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum. They have been discussing how to steer the global economy towards recovery. Other issues will now press their way onto the agenda such as North Korea and climate change. Speaking in Japan on Saturday at the start of a week-long Asian tour, President Obama pledged Washington's unshakeable commitment to the security of the region. He told the gathering in Tokyo that he wanted to pursue a policy of pragmatic cooperation with China, Asia's rising power. Leaders of Apec, a 21-member grouping that accounts for more than half of all global output reiterated their commitment to reject all forms of protectionism. A release after the meeting said leaders had resolved to exert more political will to jump-start the Doha round of global talks. Following the APEC summit, President Obama travels to China on Sunday.