Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The APEC forum was established in 1989 to take advantage of the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies, by facilitating economic growth for all participants and enhancing a sense of community in the region. It is based on members’ shared interests in supporting the multilateral trading system, the removal of barriers to trade and investment and strengthening the gains from interdependence, both for the region and the world economy.

Since its inception, APEC has helped reduce tariffs and other barriers to trade across the Asia-Pacific region. Over this period, APEC member economies have grown, and developing economies in particular have experienced significant increases in standards of living. In 1994, APEC Leaders agreed in the Bogor Declaration to a common goal of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for developing economies. Business transaction costs were reduced by five per cent between 2001 and 2006 and are scheduled to be cut by a further five per cent by 2010.

APEC is a unique forum operating on the basis of open dialogue, recognition of the diversity of the region, equal respect for the views of all participants and concerted unilateralism. Decision making within APEC is by consensus. There are no binding commitments; compliance is promoted through peer pressure and supported by economic and technical cooperation. This form of decision making enables APEC member economies to consider more challenging issues in a way which forums operating on the basis of formally negotiated agreements cannot.

亚太经合组织（简称APEC）

    亚太经合组织论坛成立于1989年。它通过促进各成员国的经济增长并且增强该区域性认同感，来充分利用亚太各经济体间日益增进的相互依赖关系。这个组织建立在各成员国对地区和世界经济方面的利益共享上，即支持多边贸易体系，去除贸易投资壁垒和增强从相互依赖获得的利益。

自从它成立以来，亚太经合组织就一直在亚太区域范围内对削减关税和减少其它贸易壁垒方面发挥了作用。在这期间，各亚太经合组织成员经济体都增长了，特别是发展中国家经济体，感受到生活水准的显著提高。在1994年，亚太经合组织领导人在茂物（Bogor）宣言上就共同目标达成共识，该目标是在亚太区域内，在2010年前实现工业发达经济体之间自由与开放式的贸易投资，在2020年前实现发展中经济体之间的自由与开放式的贸易投资。商业交易成本的花费在2001至2006年间减少了百分之五，并且计划在2010年前进一步减少百分之五。

亚太经合组织是一个独特的论坛，它的运作基础是公开对话、对地区多样性的认同、平等对待并尊重各经济体的观点和协调式的单边行动。亚太经合组织中的决议是以共识为基础。亚太经合组织没有硬性遵守的义务，协议的遵守通过其它成员间的压力和经济、技术支持来实现。这种形式的决策使各亚太经合组织成员经济体可以考虑更有挑战的问题，而这种方式是运作在正式谈判协议基础上的论坛所不能做到的。