Gyeongju: Acting President Han Duck-soo announced on Thursday that this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, set to be held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, is expected to garner increased attention due to the prevailing global economic uncertainty. Han's comments came during a meeting of the summit preparatory committee, which includes government officials, local government representatives, and business leaders.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han emphasized that the APEC summit will address a range of economic issues related to changes in the global trade environment. With the deepening uncertainty in the global economy, he anticipates a heightened international interest in the summit. Scheduled for November, the summit will bring together leaders from the 21 APEC member economies, including South Korea, the United States, Japan, China, Russia, Canada, and Australia.
Han highlighted the critical need for timely preparation, stating, "Considering the physical time needed to establish the overall infrastructure, it is now time to finalize the detailed plans and swiftly execute them." He also noted that the summit presents an opportunity to enhance South Korea's national brand.
In urging a collaborative effort, Han called on the relevant ministries and local governments to work closely with the private sector under the leadership of the foreign ministry. He stressed the importance of ensuring flawless preparations by thoroughly checking each sector multiple times.