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'''APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)''' is a ministerial forum which supports economic growth and prosperity in the Asia Pacific Region by promoting free trade and economic cooperation among its member economies. Ambassador [[Muhamad Noor Yacob]] is the current  Executive Director of APEC and its Secretariat is located in Singapore.<ref>[http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC.aspx About APEC]</ref>

'''APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)''' is a ministerial forum which supports economic growth and prosperity in the Asia Pacific Region by promoting free trade and economic cooperation among its member economies. Ambassador [[Muhamad Noor Yacob]] is the current  Executive Director of APEC and its Secretariat is located in Singapore.<ref>[http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC.aspx About APEC]</ref>

==History==

==Background==

Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke advocated  the establishment of a new intergovernmental regional cooperation during his speech in Seoul, Korea on January 1989. He proposed that the new intergovernmental regional organization  will focus on the common economic interests, social issues and to increase the trade and investments within the Asia Pacific Region. The regional response to Hawke's proposal was positive, some has reservations. An extreme consultation within the region was conducted by Australian officials which was led by former Australian Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Richard Woolcot, who was appointed as special envoy of Prime Minister Hawke. APEC was founded during the first Ministerial Meeting which was held in Canberra, Australia on November 5-7 1989. The meeting was chaired by Australian Forein Minister Gareth Evans.<ref>[http://www.pecc.org/resources/doc_view/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec Chapter 5: Back to Canberra:Founding APEC]</ref> The 12 founding members of APEC include:  Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke advocated  the establishment of a new intergovernmental regional cooperation during his speech in Seoul, Korea on January 1989. He proposed that the new intergovernmental regional organization  will focus on the common economic interests, social issues and to increase the trade and investments within the Asia Pacific Region. The regional response to Hawke's proposal was positive, some has reservations. An extreme consultation within the region was conducted by Australian officials which was led by former Australian Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Richard Woolcot, who was appointed as special envoy of Prime Minister Hawke. APEC was founded during the first Ministerial Meeting which was held in Canberra, Australia on November 5-7 1989. The meeting was chaired by Australian Forein Minister Gareth Evans.<ref>[http://www.pecc.org/resources/doc_view/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec Chapter 5: Back to Canberra:Founding APEC]</ref> The 12 founding members of APEC include:  Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

<ref>[http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/History.aspx History]</ref>  The founding members agreed that an open multilateral trading system is significant to attain a rapid regional economic growth and to concentrate their cooperation in the areas of investment, technology transfer and in areas related to human resources development.<ref>

<ref>[http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/History.aspx History]</ref>  The founding members agreed that an open multilateral trading system is significant to attain a rapid regional economic growth and to concentrate their cooperation in the areas of investment, technology transfer and in areas related to human resources development.<ref>

[http://actrav.itcilo.org/actrav-english/telearn/global/ilo/blokit/apeccan.htm#Summary Statement APEC Joint Statement: 1989 Canberra]</ref>

[http://actrav.itcilo.org/actrav-english/telearn/global/ilo/blokit/apeccan.htm#Summary Statement APEC Joint Statement: 1989 Canberra]</ref>

==APEC General Principles==

==APEC General Principles==