The term PART OF APEC can be solved by the crossword solution ASIA, which is a four-letter word. ASIA is the world's largest and most populous continent, covering an area of 44, 579, 000 square kilometers. It is home to some of the world's oldest civilizations, including China, India, Japan, and Korea. APEC, or the ASIA-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is an intergovernmental organization that promotes economic growth and cooperation among its 21 member economies, which include countries from the ASIA-Pacific region. Therefore, ASIA is an appropriate answer for the term PART OF APEC.