Fifth Stop: Vancouver, Canada

The Fifth APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting convened in Vancouver, Canada, in 1997. Discussions centered on trade and investment liberalization, economic and technical cooperation, and strategies to address the Asian financial crisis. Leaders adopted a declaration, endorsed the annual refinement of Individual Action Plans, and formally admitted Vietnam, Russia, and Peru as APEC members.

Vancouver, located in British Columbia, is the largest port city in southwestern Canada. It lies 40 km north of the Canada-U.S. border. A key distribution hub for energy, minerals, agriculture, and forestry products, it is also a major global wheat export port. Renowned for its livability and multiculturalism, Vancouver consistently ranks among the world’s most desirable cities and is home to a historic Chinatown that remains a vibrant hub for the Chinese community.