Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), organization of 20 nations and one administrative region dedicated to promoting regional economic integration and global free trade among countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. APEC was founded in 1989 at the prompting of the government of Australia. The APEC secretariat, the organization’s administrative office, was established in 1992 in Singapore. Its members include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. Peru, Russia, and Vietnam joined the organization in 1998.

Foreign ministers and trade officials from each country have met yearly since APEC’s inception. The heads of state met for the first time in 1993, while trade officials began annual meetings in 1994. At these meetings, members have discussed such issues as regional security, financing for infrastructure development, reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers, and development of global free trade.