LIMA, November 14. /TASS/. Several countries have expressed interest in joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), but the issue of expanding the organization is not expected to be addressed at the summit in Peru, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters.
"As you know, there are several countries interested in joining APEC, but expanding the membership in APEC requires a consensus among current members. So, as for what will happen now - I don’t think there are any plans for such discussions," the deputy prime minister said in response to a question from TASS.
Earlier reports said that nations including India, Cambodia, Colombia, Macau (a Special Administrative Region of China), Costa Rica, Mongolia, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, and Ecuador have shown interest in joining APEC. However, an APEC membership expansion moratorium has been in place since 1998. Initially set for ten years, this moratorium was extended indefinitely in 2010.