The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the premier economic cooperation forum in the Asia-Pacific region. In November 1989, the first APEC Ministerial Meeting was held in Canberra, Australia, marking the official establishment of APEC. The founding members were Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and United States of America.

The primary goal of APEC is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Its member economies are united in their drive to build a dynamic and harmonious Asia-Pacific community by championing free and open trade and investment, promoting and accelerating regional economic integration, encouraging economic and technical cooperation, enhancing human security, and facilitating a favorable and sustainable business environment.

APEC currently has 21 member economies: 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 Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam. Additionally, it has three official observers: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

As a regional economic cooperation forum, APEC primarily discusses issues related to the global and regional economies, such as trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, regional economic integration, connectivity, economic structural reform and innovation-driven growth, the multilateral trading system, ECOTECH cooperation and capacity building.

The APEC Secretariat was established in Singapore in January 1993 and operates as the core support mechanism for the APEC process. It provides coordination, technical and advisory support, as well as information management, communications and public outreach services. The APEC Secretariat is headed by an Executive Director. From 2010, the appointment of an Executive Director is made on a three-year fixed-term basis. Eduardo Pedrosa is the current executive director of the APEC Secretariat, and assumed office in January 2025.