CHINA / Background
Facts about APEC
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-11-14 14:34
HANOI - Asia-Pacific leaders, ministers and company executives are taking
part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hanoi November
12-19, the first big international event that Vietnam has hosted.
The following are a few facts about APEC and Hanoi:
MEMBERS AND MISSION -- APEC's 21 member economies account for more than a
third of the world's population (2.6 billion people), about 60 percent of
world GDP, and 47 percent of world trade volume.
It also has accounted for 70 percent of global economic growth.
The member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (under the name
Chinese Taipei), Thailand, United States and Vietnam.
ISSUES - APEC'S key policies are to promote trade liberalisation and
economic growth in the region, although it has begun to take on
security-related issues, including counter-terrorism initiatives.
The main item on the agenda this year is to agree a "Hanoi Declaration"
that would further delineate a vast Asia-Pacific free trade area among
the 21 members.
Other issues include counter-terrorism initiatives to protect trade,
dealing with bird flu and other pandemic disasters, and finding ways to
reduce business transaction costs.
HISTORY -- APEC was founded with 12 members in 1989 as a meeting of
ministers in Australia. The APEC leaders meeting was held for the first
time at the 1993 forum in Seattle and nearby Blake Island in Washington
state.
HOST CITY HANOI -- Located on the Red River delta, Vietnam's capital
traces its lineage back to the Neolithic age. Hanoi means "river
interior" and the fast-growing city of 3.5 million still retains the
charms of its long history, including the Old Quarter, the French
Quarter, the city's 18 lakes and hundreds of pagodas and temples.
FASHION SHOW -- A tradition of the meeting is for all participants in
APEC to don local costumes on the last day. In Hanoi, the leaders will
wear the ao dai, a silk tunic, with possibly a turban to go with it, as
this year's APEC haute couture.
Top China News
� Hu: China's development of great importance to world
� More Chinese migrant workers covered by insurance
� FM: China welcomes co-operation in Africa
� China, Japan to jointly study history
� China reconsiders pre-marital health testing
Today's Top News
� Bush: Viet Nam War lessons for struggle in Iraq
� Hu: China to pursue peace, prosperity
� Foreign banks plan local incorporation
� Soldier gets 90 years in Iraq rape case
� APEC ministers start talks on trade
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online
No comments:
Post a Comment