The 15th Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) kicked off Saturday in Australia's harbor city of Sydney under the theme of " Strengthening our community, building a sustainable future."
The following are key facts about this year's APEC Economic Leaders Meeting:
-- Who: Attending are leaders from 21 APEC member economies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
The leaders include Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Australian Prime Minister John Howard is the host for this year.
-- What: APEC leaders meeting. Since its inception in 1989 in response to growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies, APEC has become the premier regional forum for promoting open trade and practical economic and technical cooperation among the Asia-Pacific economies.
Over the years, it has grown to encompass 21 members spanning four continents, and represents the most economically dynamic region in the world, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the world's population, 56 percent of world GDP and nearly half of world trade.
-- Where: Sydney, Australia. With its iconic Opera House and fine beaches, the city is one of the world's most favored travel destinations. It is also a powerhouse of the country's economy.
-- When: The meeting is being held on Sept. 8-9, following the Ministerial Meeting on Sept. 5-6 and the Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting on Sept. 2-3.
Source: Xinhua
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