APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. A strange name. Neither a committee nor a council, not even a commission -- just "cooperation."

It sounds more like unfinished business than a group of 21 nation states. The word forum is usually stuck behind the four letters to give it a more commu- nal flavor. Founded in 1989, the APEC "forum" met for its 18th annual meeting in Hanoi from Nov. 18 to 19.

Whether intentional or not, the best thing about APEC is actually its wishy-washy name.