Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (full name: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; abbreviation: APEC) is the most influential economic organization in the Asia-Pacific region, founded in November 5-7, 1989, headquartered in Singapore It was originally a ministerial-level meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Canberra, Australia, by six countries - Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and ASEAN - and later changed its name in June 1993. In November 1991, China joined the organization as a sovereign state, when Taipei, China and Hong Kong (renamed "Hong Kong, China" since July 1, 1997) formally joined the organization as regional economies.