Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC Kicks Off 2026 Meetings to Advance Openness, Innovation and Cooperation Guangzhou, People's Republic of China | 01 February 2026
APEC Leaders to Convene in Korea Amid Heightened Global Interest Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will gather in Korea at the end of October for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, a pivotal moment as the region continues to navigate uncertainty in the global economy
About APEC The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific APEC's 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration & amp;amp;nbsp;
History - APEC Between 1989 and 1992, APEC met as an informal senior official- and ministerial-level dialogue In 1993, former US President Bill Clinton established the practice of an annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to provide greater strategic vision and direction for cooperation in the region The following is a timeline of host economies and milestones
Member Economies - APEC Discover the 21 member economies of APEC and their collaborative efforts to promote prosperity and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region
Achievements and Benefits - APEC APEC has grown to become a dynamic engine of economic growth and one of the most important regional forums in the Asia-Pacific Its 21 member economies are home to around 2 95 billion people and represent approximately 62 percent of world GDP and 48 percent of world trade in 2021
How APEC Operates APEC - A Multilateral Economic Forum Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) operates as a cooperative, multilateral economic and trade forum It is the only international intergovernmental grouping in the world committed to reducing barriers to trade and investment without requiring its members to enter into legally binding obligations
Events - APEC Discover upcoming APEC events and meetings, fostering collaboration among member economies in the Asia-Pacific region
Intellectual Property Experts Align AI, Trade and Finance Agenda - APEC As intangible assets account for an increasing share of business value in the region, the discussions signalled that IP policy is no longer a technical legal matter alone, but a key lever for trade, innovation and inclusive growth across the Asia-Pacific
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC and virtual ABTC) The APEC Business Mobility Group launched the virtual APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) during APEC Leader’s Week in November 2020 The virtual ABTC is an innovative new method for travelling with the ABTC It brings the existing scheme into the digital era, providing the much-valued service through cardholders’ smart devices