Gyeongju: President Lee Jae Myung announced that South Korea is set to take a leading role in fostering multilateral cooperation among Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to tackle the challenges posed by increasing protectionism.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee addressed the APEC CEO Summit's opening ceremony, emphasizing the need for collaboration amid the resurgence of protectionism and national interest-driven policies. He highlighted South Korea's commitment, as the APEC chair, to spearheading efforts towards multilateral cooperation to overcome these global challenges. Lee underscored the significance of supply chain cooperation in this context.
With this year's theme focused on "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow," President Lee urged the 21 member economies to join forces in promoting innovation, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). He noted South Korea's proactive role in leading discussions on AI technology and standards at recent APEC ministerial meetings. A key initiative, dubbed the AI Highway, aims to establish a cross-sectoral infrastructure and ecosystem for AI, accompanied by legal frameworks to ensure the technology's responsible use.
President Lee announced plans to propose an AI initiative at the upcoming summit, with the goal of embedding the vision of 'AI for All' as the new standard within APEC. He also committed to enhancing support for younger generations in the Asia-Pacific by sharing South Korea's developmental experiences with other member economies.
In a move to support future generations, South Korea contributed US$1 million in August to an APEC fund, dedicated to projects that create more opportunities for young people.