Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Established: At a meeting of foreign and economic ministers of 12 nations November 6–7, 1989, in Canberra, Australia; objectives and principles set forth in Seoul Declaration approved during ministerial meeting November 12–14, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea; Declaration of Institutional Arrangements adopted September 10–11, 1992, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Purpose: To provide a forum for discussion on a variety of economic issues and to promote multilateral cooperation among the region’s market-oriented economies.

Headquarters: Singapore.

Principal Organs: Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Ministerial Meeting, Senior Officials’ Meeting, Budget and Management Committee, Committee on Trade and Investment, Economic Committee, Secretariat.

Web site: www.apec.org

Executive Director: Alan Bollard (New Zealand).

Membership (21): Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, ...