Pacific Rim finance leaders mull ways to curb inflation

BANGKOK — Finance ministers of major Pacific Rim economies pledged Thursday to combat inflation and target spending to support sustainable growth at a meeting in Bangkok ahead of a summit next month.

Asked about possible disagreements over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Thailand’s finance minister, host of the meeting, acknowledged there were “varying views” among the senior officials of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which includes Russia and many other Asian-Pacific nations.

China, another APEC member, is among countries that have refrained from joining the U.S. and many Western nations in condemning the attack and calling for Russia to withdraw.

But Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the discussions Wednesday and Thursday focused mainly on economic issues and on how to cope with the ramifications of the crisis.

“The only thing we can do…