19 November 2015: Ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries affirmed their commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development (AAAA) at the close of the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting meeting. APEC leaders also adopted the APEC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Framework to facilitate international cooperation cooperation on DRR.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting took place from 18-19 November 2015, in Manila, Philippines, on the theme of ‘Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.’ Opening the meeting, outgoing APEC Chair Philippine President Benigno Aquino III called on leaders to focus on people and “write a growth story with a vision of economic prosperity and interconnectedness at all levels.”

Ministers adopted a ten-point ‘Manila Declaration’ that affirms support for previous agreements and welcomes the outcomes of these UN processes. Ministers also adopted an APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth, annexed to the Declaration, and agreed to report regularly on its progress. The Manila Declaration of APEC Leaders also reaffirms APEC members’ aspirational goal to reduce aggregate energy intensity by 45% by 2035, double renewable energy in the regional energy mix by 2030, and rationalize and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies over the medium term.

APEC leaders requested ministers of member economies to craft an action plan in 2016 that will include revival of an earlier initiative on business continuity planning. Ministers affirmed their existing Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Action Plan 2016-2018, which aims for a 10% improvement in five priority areas: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, trading across borders, getting credit, and enforcing contracts. They adopted an APEC Services Cooperation Framework, which is also annexed to the Manila Declaration.

Speaking at the APEC meeting, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) called on leaders to support the Pacific Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change Action and, in particular, to commit to an ambitious and legally binding agreement at the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

There are 21 member economies from Pacific Rim countries in APEC: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; US; and Viet Nam.

Leaders’ Summits take place annually. As incoming chair of APEC, Peru will host the 24th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. [Manila Declaration] [APEC Press Release on Aquino Statement] [PIFS Press Release] [APEC Website]