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APEC USA 2011
Image courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, President Barack Obama talks with President Hu Jintao of China at the conclusion of a meeting during the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (P111311PS-0767)
APEC USA 2011
Image courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, President Barack Obama talks with President Hu Jintao of China at the conclusion of a meeting during the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (P111311PS-0767)

APEC USA 2011

Event TypeGovernment
November 12, 2011 - November 13, 2011
Formed in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an inter-governmental forum composed of independent economic entities from the Asia-Pacific region. The goal of the forum is to create a prosperous region predominantly through trade. Working groups strategize throughout the year with a culmination of an annual summit where APEC Leaders and Ministers meet.

The 2011 APEC Summit was the 19th annual gathering of the leaders of member economies with the event hosted in the United States, held at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii from November 12th through 13th. Initatives set during the 2011 summit were based on the theme of the year, "Toward a Seamless Regional Economy."

With the location of the summit rotating annually, the last time the United States hosted the APEC summit had been for the 1993 gathering. As the host economy for 2011, the United States was responsible for chairing the annual meeting, selected ministerial meetings, and other aspects of the summit. During the summit President Obama had bilaterial meetings with many of the other member economies and hosted an event dinner with a reception and cultural performance.