The 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting was held on November 16-17, 2023 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, US.
Golden Gate Declaration
- The leaders adopted the Golden Gate Declaration on creating a resilient and sustainable future for all.
- During the summit the leaders focused on the subjects of sustainability, climate, just energy transition, interconnectedness and building inclusive and resilient economies.
- In the Golden Gate Declaration document, the leaders have reaffirmed their determination to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment.
- They also reaffirm the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, which continues to catalyze APEC region’s extraordinary growth.
About APEC
- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first-ever leaders’ meeting that took place in 1993, when the host country — the US — upgraded the APEC meeting mechanism from the ministerial level to the level of an informal leaders’ meeting.
- In 1993, an APEC Secretariat was established in Singapore to support the activities of the forum.
- Key to achieving APEC’s vision are what are referred to as the ‘Bogor Goals’ of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for developing economies.
- APEC has 21 members referred to as ‘member economies.’ APEC’s 21 member economies are: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Republic of the Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam.
