The first Asia Pacific Business Forum (APBF) was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Shanghai, China in April 2004, in collaboration with the Government of China. The Forum was attended by over 300 senior government officials, business executives and representatives from the civil society at large.

As a new initiative, this first-ever business forum involving the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region aimed to discuss emerging trade and investment opportunities and to promote cooperation and dialogue between the public and business sectors. It also aimed to provide a platform for networking and forming partnerships among the business community in the Asia-Pacific region.