環太平洋の地域主義と日本　―APECの軌跡―

Abstract

The Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, APEC, established in 1989, now consists of 21 countries from the Pacific Rim region. It has been working for the liberalization of trade and investment, and aims to achieve the liberalization by 2010 for advanced countries and by 2020 for developing countries. Meanwhile, ARF, ASEAN Regional Forum, which began in 1994, consists of 26 countries at present. The countries include the main members of APEC as well as North Korea. ARF deals with security and political issues in the Asian region. Other regional conferences and organizations have existed and proposals for the establishment of an East Asian Community and similar organizations have been made in the Pacific Rim region. I would like to propose the formation of a Pacific Rim Community by uniti ng APEC with ARF to achieve economic and political unity as well as contributing to peace and stability in the region.