Russia has joined Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)* in 1998. Since 1999, it has constantly participated in annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings (AELM).
Russian government officials take part, on a regular basis, in sectoral ministerial meetings (on trade and investment, finance, energy, small and medium enterprise, transport, science and technology, fisheries, agriculture, etc.) and events organized by relevant APEC fora. The Russian involvement in APEC-related activities is coordinated by the Subcommission on Economic Integration of the Government's Commission on Economic Development and Integration.
Russia has vast experience in hosting expert-level APEC events, including those on transport (Vladivostok, 2005), energy efficiency and energy conservation (Moscow, 2005 and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2006), industrial science and technology (Vladivostok, 2007). Of late, Russia organized a number of seminars/symposiums, in particular, on Establishing Multilateral Cooperation in Fighting Wild Fires in the Asia-Pacific region (Khabarovsk, 2010), Using Marine Energy Resources of APEC Economies' Coastal Zones as Sustainable Source of Green Electric Power in Asia-Pacific (Vladivostok, 2010), Transport Control and Monitoring on the Basis of Satellite Navigation Systems in APEC Region (Vladivostok, 2011).
In 2005 and 2009, Russia has successfully passed peer reviews of its APEC Individual Action Plan (IAP) for Trade and Investment Liberalization and Business Facilitation.
Russia has been actively involved in APEC efforts in the field of human security, especially in counter-terrorism and disaster preparedness. APEC members welcome and support Russia's initiatives on providing international information security, fighting cyber terrorism, improving protection of key energy infrastructure, expanding interaction in these areas with G20 and other international bodies.
Mining Task Force (MTF), which evolved from Russia's initiative, has achieved considerable results. Within the framework of MTF Russia convened APEC Conference on sustainable development in this industry (Singapore, 2009). Building up on the outcomes of the Conference, Russia submitted in 2010 the Report on Mining Sustainable Development in Asia-Pacific to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.
In APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Russia is represented by Ziyavudin Magomedov of "Summa Group", Oleg Deripaska of Basic Element and Andrei Kostin of JSC VTB Bank.
In May 2010, Russia announced its accession to the transitional model of APEC Business Travel Card initiative which facilitates visa issuance and customs control procedures for the card holders.
In 2009-2010, the Russian Federation made voluntary contribution of 500,000 USD to the APEC Support Fund (ASF). Another contribution of 3,000,000 USD is being transferred to ASF in 2011-2012.
Russia's activities as APEC-2012 host economy are coordinated by the National Organising Committee headed by the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov.
* APEC was founded as an informal consultative forum to promote economic cooperation, encompassing, as members, the leading economies in the region. When APEC admitted three new members during the third APEC Ministerial Meeting in Seoul in November 1991, the protocol was accepted to refer to the three new member economies as the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and Chinese Taipei. As such, APEC's members are always referred to as "Economies" rather than countries or nations. The use or display of national flags, symbols or anthems is prohibited and only simple nameplates of the member economies are displayed at any APEC function.