Formed with the support of the US Department of State, the United States Asia Pacific Council comprises American corporations and citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the US relationship with Asian and Pacific nations. The Council is a vehicle through which the knowledge and experience of its members inform and enhance US engagement with the region.

Individual Council members are active in many areas of public and private service including businesses, government, education, research and journalism. They participate in the Council as private citizens who advise, promote, and facilitate the work of official and private international institutions in the Asia-Pacific. Among these institutions are the regional organizations of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) whose US representation has been consolidated under the auspices of the Council. Additionally, the Council members advise and participate in the activities of official regional organizations such as the intergovernmental forum on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Council members are invited from time to time to personally advise and support US interests in the Asia-Pacific region through special initiatives as well as participation in delegations and advisory groups.

The Council is hosted by and administered through the East-West Center, a U.S. and internationally funded non-profit research and educational institution dedicated to the further development of a Pacific community. Based in East-West Center Washington, the Council draws upon the Center’s extensive in-house expertise at its Honolulu headquarters as well as that of other US institutions devoted to the promotion of US relations with the Asia-Pacific region.