Yokohama , Japan ( CNN ) -- World leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Sunday pledged to work toward a free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region . `` We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving free and open trade and investment in the region , '' the leaders said in a joint statement at the end of their two-day summit in Yokohama , Japan . The summit brought together 21 leaders from countries around the Pacific Rim . But the group acknowledged challenges in the global economy and the environment . `` The Asia-Pacific regional economy is recovering from the recent economic and financial crisis , but uncertainty still remains , '' the leaders said . `` We also face heightened challenges with regard to the protection of our environment and natural resources , including the necessity to jointly address climate change . '' The summit also included the first formal talks between the Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan and the Chinese president Hu Jintao since a territorial dispute in September strained relations between the two . This weekend marks the end of Obama 's 10-day trip to Asia aimed at opening `` new markets for American products in this fast-growing part of the world , '' according to his weekly address . He headed back to the United States on Sunday . At the summit , Obama added , `` In the 21st century , there is no need to view trade , commerce or economic growth as zero-sum games , where one country always has to prosper at the expense of another . If we work together and act together , strengthening our economic ties can be a win-win for all of our nations . '' Obama has also pushed the Trans-Pacific Partnership , which is seen as a building block in trying to create a free-trade area in the Pacific Rim . The TPP would cut import tariffs for several countries . The United States is scheduled to host next year 's APEC summit in Hawaii . CNN 's Kyung Lah contributed to this report .
one leaders wrap up a two-day economic summit in Yokohama , Yokohama . The group also talks about a `` necessity to jointly address climate change '' Obama ends a two-day trip to Obama aimed at opening `` new markets for Japanese products ''