Jeju: The second round of the high-level preparatory meeting for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit commenced on South Korea's southern island of Jeju, officials said. The 14-day Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), which began on Saturday and is set to continue through May 16, gathers over 3,200 government delegates and private-sector representatives from the 21 APEC member economies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea plans to use this occasion to emphasize the specifics of key agenda items it has introduced for this year's summit. These include initiatives on cooperation in artificial intelligence and responses to demographic changes, as articulated by foreign ministry officials. The meeting is a significant step in shaping the discussions and agreements for the upcoming APEC summit.
In conjunction with the event, there will be ministerial meetings focusing on finance and trade. Additionally, a series of conferences will be held covering topics such as economy and technology cooperation, women and economic policy partnerships, among others. These meetings and conferences aim to foster dialogue and collaboration among the member economies on pressing issues.
Three additional SOM sessions are anticipated to take place before the summit, which is scheduled for November. These sessions are part of the preparatory process, ensuring that the summit is thoroughly planned and organized.