Key APEC Milestones¹

1989 - Canberra, Australia
APEC begins as an informal Ministerial-level dialogue group with 12 members.

1993 - Blake Island, United States
APEC Economic Leaders meet for the first time and outline APEC's vision, "stability, security and prosperity for our peoples."

1994 - Bogor, Indonesia
APEC sets the Bogor Goals of, "free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing economies."

1995 - Osaka, Japan
APEC adopts the Osaka Action Agenda (OAA) which provides a framework for meeting the Bogor Goals through trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation and sectoral² activities, underpinned³ by policy dialogues, economic and technical cooperation.

1996 - Manila, The Philippines
The Manila Action Plan for APEC (MAPA) is adopted, outlining the trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation measures to reach the Bogor Goals and the first Collective and Individual Action Plans are compiled, outlining how economies will achieve the free trade goals.

1997 - Vancouver, Canada
APEC endorses⁴ a proposal for Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalization (EVSL) in 15 sectors⁵ and decides that Individual Action Plans should be updated annually⁶.

1998 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
APEC agrees on the first nine sectors for EVSL and seeks an EVSL agreement with non-APEC members at the World Trade Organization.

1999 - Auckland, New Zealand
APEC commits to paperless trading by 2005 in developed economies and 2010 in developing economies. APEC Business Travel Card scheme is approved and a Mutual⁷ Recognition Arrangement on Electrical Equipment and a Framework for the Integration⁸ of Women in APEC is endorsed⁹.

2000 - Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
APEC establishes an electronic Individual Action Plan (e-IAP) system, providing IAPs online and commits to the Action Plan for the New Economy, which, amongst other objectives, aims to triple Internet access throughout APEC region by 2005.

2001 - Shanghai, People's Republic of China
APEC adopts the Shanghai Accord, which focuses on Broadening the APEC Vision, Clarifying the Roadmap to Bogor and Strengthening the Implementation¹¹ Mechanism¹². The e-APEC Strategy is adopted, which sets out an agenda to strengthen market structures and institutions, facilitate infrastructure¹³ investment and technology for on-line transactions and promote entrepreneurship and human capacity building. APEC's first Counter-Terrorism Statement is issued.

2002 - Los Cabos, Mexico
APEC adopts a Trade Facilitation Action Plan, Policies on Trade and the Digital Economy and Transparency Standards. APEC's second Counter-Terrorism Statement is delivered, along with the adoption¹⁴ of the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Initiative.

2003 - Bangkok, Thailand
APEC agrees to re-energize the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations¹⁵ and stresses the complementary aims of bilateral¹⁶ and regional trade agreements, the Bogor Goals and the multilateral trading system under the WTO. APEC dedicates itself not only to promoting the prosperity of member economies, but also to improving the security of the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region. APEC pledges to take specific actions to dismantle¹⁷ terrorist groups, eliminate the danger of weapons of mass destruction and confront other security threats. Members sign up to the APEC Action Plan on SARS and the Health Security Initiative to further protect personal security. APEC also strengthens its efforts to build knowledge-based economies, promote sound and efficient financial systems and accelerate regional structural¹⁸ reform.

2004 - Santiago, Chile
APEC issues a strong statement of support for progress in the WTO Doha Development Agenda and sets a target date for achieving a breakthrough in negotiations: December 2005, the convening¹⁹ of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference. APEC adopts Best Practices for RTAs and FTAs, the Santiago Initiative for Expanded Trade and a Data Privacy Framework. APEC reiterates²⁰ its "unmistakable resolve" to confront the threat of terrorism, and takes further action in this regard by identifying key elements of effective export control systems; establishing guidelines on the control of man-portable air defense²¹ systems (MANPADS), and continuing to implement¹⁰ the STAR initiative. APEC makes a political commitment to fight corruption²² and ensure transparency, and endorses a specific Course of Action towards this end.

2005 - Busan, Korea
APEC adopts the Busan Roadmap, completes the Mid-Term Stocktake which has found that APEC is well on its way to meeting the Bogor Goals, and the APEC Privacy Framework. Leaders issue a stand-alone statement in support of a successful conclusion to the WTO's 6th Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong, China and agree to confront pandemic health threats and continue to fight against terrorism which could cause deep economic insecurity for the region.

2006 - Ha Noi, Viet Nam
APEC Economic Leaders endorsed the Ha Noi Action Plan which identifies specific actions and milestones to implement the Bogor Goals and support capacity-building measures to help APEC economies. They also issued a statement on the WTO Doha Development Agenda calling for ambitious and balanced outcomes. To prioritize its agenda, APEC takes a strategic approach to reform working groups and strengthen the Secretariat.