Q+A-APEC expected to maintain stimulus until recovery

SINGAPORE, Nov 9 (Reuters) - APEC countries including the United States, Japan and China are expected to pledge this week to keep up their stimulus policies and push for a global trade deal in 2010 to spur a lasting economic recovery.

Leaders from the grouping will also try to provide some momentum for global talks on climate change next month in Copenhagen.

Here are some questions and answers about the APEC meetings in Singapore, which culminate in a leaders summit on Nov. 14-15.

WHAT IS APEC AND WHO IS COMING?

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum brings together leaders from 21 of the world's largest economies to work toward improving trade and world growth.

APEC includes wealthy countries such as the United States, Australia and Japan and some of the fastest growing emerging economies, including China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The other APEC members are Brunei, Canada, Chile, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

Finance, trade and foreign ministers meet during the week and the leaders hold a two-day summit at the weekend. Among the leaders coming are: U.S. President Barack Obama, China's President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

WHAT IS THE MAIN AIM OF APEC?

APEC's member economies account for 54 percent of global gross domestic product, 44 percent of world trade and 40 percent of the world's population. It is aiming to create a free trade and investment area by 2020 to promote growth, create jobs, reduce business costs and build an Asia-Pacific community.