Leaders of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies have adopted the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Gyeongju Declaration, committing to deepen digital cooperation, strengthen trade resilience and promote inclusive growth across the region.
Hosted by the Republic of Korea under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,” the summit took place from October 31 to November 1 in Gyeongju, following a year-long series of ministerial meetings across Seoul, Busan, Jeju and Incheon. The declaration organizes APEC’s goals into three priorities — Connect, Innovate, Prosper — reflecting the region’s focus on sustainable, technology-driven development.
Under Connect, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to free and open trade and investment, pledging to advance regional economic integration through the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda. They also vowed to enhance supply chain resilience through the Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan (2022–2026) and endorsed the Strengthened and Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (SEAASR 2026–2030).
The declaration highlighted anti-corruption cooperation, business mobility via the APEC Business Travel Card, and the growing importance of Cultural and Creative Industries supported by digital and AI technologies.
The Innovate section focused on preparing the region for digital transformation. Leaders endorsed the APEC AI Initiative, a new framework to promote responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence development, and reaffirmed commitment to the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER). They emphasized digital literacy, cybersecurity and equitable access to technology to ensure all members benefit from technological progress.
In the Prosper pillar, APEC economies pledged to make growth more inclusive by empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), addressing demographic shifts and enhancing cooperation in food, energy and health security. Leaders also endorsed the Collaborative Framework for Demographic Changes, aimed at tackling aging populations and urbanization trends.
Concluding the summit, leaders thanked South Korea for hosting APEC 2025 and reaffirmed their commitment to the Putrajaya Vision 2040, to build an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community for future generations
Shongjog 