Press Room

The 2014 APEC CEO Summit generated significant global media attention, with journalists from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond covering this landmark gathering of business and government leaders.

Media Coverage and Impact

Over 500 accredited journalists covered the summit, representing major international news organizations, regional business publications, and specialized economic media. The extensive coverage reflected global interest in Asia-Pacific economic integration and the summit’s role in shaping regional cooperation.

Key Summit Outcomes

Leaders’ Commitments

The summit produced substantial commitments on regional economic integration, with leaders agreeing that APEC should make important contributions as an incubator to translate the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific from vision to reality. These commitments were formally articulated in the 2014 Leaders’ Declaration following the Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

The declaration emphasized three core priorities that had been extensively discussed during the CEO Summit:

1. Advancing regional economic integration through progress toward the FTAAP and strengthening connectivity
2. Promoting innovative development and economic reform across member economies
3. Strengthening comprehensive connectivity through infrastructure investment and institutional cooperation

Business Community Recommendations

CEO Summit participants provided substantive input on trade liberalization, regulatory harmonization, and infrastructure development priorities. These business perspectives informed government deliberations and contributed to APEC’s work program on:

• Reducing barriers to trade and investment
• Harmonizing standards and regulations across economies
• Facilitating digital commerce and cross-border data flows
• Enhancing supply chain connectivity and efficiency

Notable Keynote Addresses

President Barack Obama’s Address

President Obama’s keynote speech outlined the United States’ comprehensive engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. Key themes included:

• America’s economic commitment to the region through the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations
• The importance of rules-based trade frameworks for inclusive growth
• Investment in education, innovation, and infrastructure as drivers of prosperity
• Climate change and clean energy cooperation as economic opportunities

His remarks emphasized that America’s rebalance to Asia represents not just a diplomatic priority but a fundamental economic imperative.

President Vladimir Putin’s Perspective

President Putin’s address highlighted Russia’s growing economic engagement with Asia-Pacific markets and its commitment to regional cooperation through APEC. His speech addressed energy security, infrastructure connectivity, and opportunities for enhanced trade relationships across the region.

The Russian Federation’s participation underscored APEC’s role as a inclusive platform for dialogue among diverse economies at different development stages.

Other Distinguished Speakers

Additional keynote addresses and panel discussions featured:

• Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying on global economic trends and outlook
• President Benigno Aquino III on economic reform experiences in the Philippines
• President Truong Tan Sang on connectivity and infrastructure priorities
• Prime Minister John Key on financial system stability and development

These diverse perspectives enriched summit dialogues and provided journalists with comprehensive coverage of regional economic issues.

Media Facilities and Services

The summit provided dedicated press facilities including:

• Press Center: Fully equipped workspace with high-speed internet, printing facilities, and work stations
• Press Conference Rooms: Dedicated spaces for keynote speaker briefings and panel discussions
• Media Filing Centers: Technical facilities for broadcast and digital media production
• Press Credentials: Accreditation system ensuring access to summit venues and events
• Language Support: Simultaneous interpretation and translation services for international media

These professional facilities enabled comprehensive and timely coverage of summit proceedings.

Photo Gallery

The APEC Photo Gallery provides visual documentation of summit events, including keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions. These images capture the energy and engagement characterizing the two-day gathering.

Background Resources

About APEC

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum was established in 1989 to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC’s 21 member economies account for nearly 40% of the world’s population, approximately 50% of global GDP, and about 44% of world trade.

APEC operates through consensus-based decision making and voluntary commitments, fostering cooperation without binding treaty obligations. This approach enables flexible engagement on trade and investment liberalization while respecting diverse economic systems and development priorities.

Economic Context

The 2014 summit occurred during a period of significant global economic transition. The Asia-Pacific region had emerged as the primary engine of global economic growth, with developing economies in Southeast Asia and dynamic markets like China driving unprecedented expansion.

Regional trade and investment flows had grown substantially, creating increasingly integrated supply chains and production networks. However, the absence of a comprehensive regional trade framework represented both a challenge and an opportunity for further integration.

Fact Sheet: 22nd Annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

The official White House fact sheet provides comprehensive information on summit outcomes and commitments. Key achievements included:

• Endorsement of a roadmap for APEC contributions to the realization of the FTAAP
• Commitments on environmental goods trade liberalization
• Agreements on customs facilitation and supply chain connectivity
• Initiatives on economic reform and growth strategies

These tangible outcomes demonstrated the summit’s impact on regional cooperation frameworks.

International Perspective

The World Economic Forum’s analysis provided independent perspective on summit discussions regarding regional trade architecture. Their coverage examined competing visions for Asia-Pacific economic integration and implications for global economic governance.

This analysis helped contextualize summit dialogues within broader debates about trade liberalization, regulatory harmonization, and the future of multilateral cooperation.

Continuing Media Engagement

The summit’s impact extends beyond the immediate event. Journalists continue to reference summit commitments and outcomes when covering developments in Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, trade negotiations, and regional integration initiatives.

The relationships established between summit organizers and international media facilitated ongoing coverage of APEC activities and regional economic developments throughout 2014 and subsequent years.

Press Contact Information

Media inquiries regarding the 2014 APEC CEO Summit can be directed to:

APEC Secretariat 35 Heng Mui Keng Terrace Singapore 119616

For information about current APEC activities and upcoming events, visit the official APEC website or contact the APEC Secretariat communications team.

Archival Materials

Comprehensive documentation of the 2014 APEC CEO Summit, including speeches, panel transcripts, and background materials, remains available through APEC’s official documentation portal and participating member economy archives.

These resources support ongoing research and analysis of the summit’s contributions to Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and regional integration.