In 1994, Indonesia hosted the second APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Bogor, West Java. That meeting gave the world, and APEC members specifically, the Bogor Goals that contained a commitment to embrace a free and open trade and investment regime by 2010 for industrialized economies, and by 2020 for developing economies.

It is almost two decades since that significant event and the ideas it produced. The world has changed rapidly since then.

Economic and technological growth has brought the world to a new frontier. And the Asia-Pacific region has proved its capability in this new era of human kind.

The 2013 APEC meeting in Bali is more than just a cause for national pride within Indonesia. It will determine the course of geopolitical and economic cooperation in the years to come.

With the recent decline of the US and European economies, and faced with new roars by the Asian tigers, will the balance of power shift to new pillars? The answer to this question will reveal itself in due course.

Meanwhile, all the preparations for APEC have been completed and all the relevant personnel have been deployed. The new Sofitel Hotel and the APEC venue in Nusa Dua, Bali, are ready to house the APEC meetings.

They will bear witness to this decisive moment for change, where the balance of economic power will slowly start shifting and cooperation between countries will set the world on a new course.

Welcome to Bali.

No charge relaxation: Journalists covering the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Travel Facilitation meetings enjoy free massages from female masseurs at the Sheraton Hotel, Kuta, Bali, on Tuesday. The journalists were happy to get the unexpected free service. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

Man’s best partner: A security officer along with dogs patrols the Nusa Dua area in an electric car in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

New generation: Several young delegates walk to the venue of the APEC Voices of the Future 2013 Youth Forum on Sustainable Development at Ayana hotel, Jimbaran, Bali, on Thursday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

Direct from an expert: Agung Prana (second left), a tourism expert in Bali explains the history of Taman Ayun temple to APEC delegates on Wednesday. (JP/Anggara Mahendra)

Ready to serve: Two tourists pass through the docked Navy’s KRI Suharso medical ship in Nusa Dua waters in Bali on Thursday. The ship is prepared to deal with any situation during the APEC Summit and its related meetings. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

In 1994, Indonesia hosted the second APEC Leaders'€™ Meeting in Bogor, West Java. That meeting gave the world, and APEC members specifically, the Bogor Goals that contained a commitment to embrace a free and open trade and investment regime by 2010 for industrialized economies, and by 2020 for developing economies.

It is almost two decades since that significant event and the ideas it produced. The world has changed rapidly since then.

Economic and technological growth has brought the world to a new frontier. And the Asia-Pacific region has proved its capability in this new era of human kind.

The 2013 APEC meeting in Bali is more than just a cause for national pride within Indonesia. It will determine the course of geopolitical and economic cooperation in the years to come.

With the recent decline of the US and European economies, and faced with new roars by the Asian tigers, will the balance of power shift to new pillars? The answer to this question will reveal itself in due course.

Meanwhile, all the preparations for APEC have been completed and all the relevant personnel have been deployed. The new Sofitel Hotel and the APEC venue in Nusa Dua, Bali, are ready to house the APEC meetings.

They will bear witness to this decisive moment for change, where the balance of economic power will slowly start shifting and cooperation between countries will set the world on a new course.

Welcome to Bali.