Gyeongju: President Lee Jae Myung declared that South Korea will take a forefront position in advancing multilateral cooperation among the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to tackle the challenges posed by increasing protectionism. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, Lee highlighted the need for collaboration amid a global climate focusing on national interests.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee emphasized South Korea’s role as the APEC chair in steering multilateral efforts to address these pressing issues. He underscored the significance of supply chain cooperation as a critical component of this initiative. Lee also announced that South Korea will propose an artificial intelligence initiative at this year’s gathering, with the aim of establishing “AI for all” as a standard among APEC members.
Lee conveyed that while discussions on cooperation and inclusive development may seem ineffective during times of heightened protectionism and national interest policies, South Korea is committed to leading efforts in multilateral collaboration to overcome these challenges. The Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name, seeks to champion this path of cooperation within the APEC framework, as part of its leadership agenda.