The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2015

 (Photo source: apec2015ceosummit.ph, 2015)

(Photo Source: thesummitexpress.com, 2015)

                   The APEC Summit 2015 was hosted by the Philippines and chaired by President Benigno S. Aquino III in Pasay, Manila last November 18-19, 2015. It was the second time the Philippines hosted the summit, the first being the 1996 APEC Summit. Under the theme, “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World”, Leaders, Ministers and Senior Officials from APEC’s 21 member economies, the world’s largest regional economic group, will take new joint actions to boost trade and growth in the Pacific Rim while ensuring benefits for the countries as well. (apec.org, 2015)

               APEC, otherwise known as the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation” is an annual trade, financial, investment, economic, developmental, and political networking event wherein the leaders of Asia-Pacific economies or countries meet to forge trade agreements, talk about financial matters, discuss foreign investments, and pledge economic promises.

(Photo source: rappler.com, 2015)

            During the summit, the leaders also endorsed the priorities of the Philippines, the host country, in the following areas:

• Building inclusive economies
• Fostering participation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in regional and global markets
• Building sustainable and resilient communities
• Investing in human capital development
• Enhancing the regional economic integration agenda
• Strengthening collaboration

        The declaration summed up agreements made in the entire year the Philippines hosted APEC. (Macaraig, 2015)

(Photo source: apec.org, 2015)

“Building on APEC’s achievements over the past generation, the Philippines hosts APEC with a people-centered agenda that embraces all segments of society as invaluable participants in a growth that is holistic,” said Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, in remarks to APEC Economic Leaders. President Aquino, chair of the proceedings, called for the Leaders of the 21 APEC members to advance an agenda for joint action that lifts their economies and improves the Asia-Pacific region’s prospects for the future.

 “Together, we can write a growth story with a vision of economic prosperity and interconnectedness felt at all levels,” President Aquino concluded. “As regional economic integration continues to take form, APEC’s role – when viewed through the prism of inclusive growth – will be defined not only according to the future of economies but also of the people that drive economic growth.” (apec.org, 2015)

 (Photo source: apec.org, 2015)

                The APEC can be related to Structural Functionalism, which is one of the three paradigms of Sociology. Structural Functionalism, according to its definition by Macionis (2010), sees society as complex system where parts work together to promote stability and solidarity Its key characteristic is that it views society as constantly striving to be at a state of equilibrium, which suggests there is an inherent drive within human societies to cohere or stick together. (Hak, 2007)

               Together, the leaders which represent the different countries all strive together to reach equilibrium. The platforms that were discussed in the summit were trying to attain stability and solidarity within the society. These platforms could strengthen collaboration most of all, since it could pave way for the different countries to work hand-in-hand with one another. Just like what President Aquino said, the APEC embraces all segments of society as invaluable participants, wherein they all work together towards a holistic growth – an important factor for the society. 

Bibliography

apec.org. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2015/1113_CSOM.aspx

Hak, D. (2007). Retrieved from https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Sociological_Theory/Structural_Functionalism

Macaraig, A. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.rappler.com/world/global-affairs/113386-apec-leaders-declaration-terrorism