S. Korea takes leadership role at APEC amid turbulent multilateral landscape

Amid serious challenges to the global multilateral order and deepening protectionist moves, South Korea was seen taking a leadership role at last week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit by providing a platform for world leaders to discuss the free trade system and shared future tasks. The summit, held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, took place at a time when the United States and China were at odds over tariffs and trade issues, and global trade dynamics were shifting dramatically,

Nov. 2, 2025

Lee, Xi agree to reboot high-level dialogue, turn thaw into economic gains

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — The leaders of South Korea and China agreed Saturday to reboot a regular high-level dialogue to strengthen strategic coordination on regional and global issues, pledging to turn their thaw into tangible economic cooperation and work toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul’s presidential office said. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a 100-minute, in-person summit Saturday — their first since Lee took office — on t

Nov. 1, 2025

Lee expects Xi to bolster strategic communication with China to resume talks with N. Korea

President Lee Jae Myung held his first summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday and expressed hope to strengthen strategic communication to work together for resumption of talks with North Korea. Lee welcomed Xi's first visit to South Korea in 11 years to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, expressing hope that their summit would lay a foundation for "tangible results" that the peoples of both countries can feel. Lee no

Nov. 1, 2025

Gyeongju Declaration casts APEC’s new creed around AI, culture industry

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — APEC’s 2025 Gyeongju Declaration, adopted by consensus among all 21 member economies after strenuous and tense negotiations, marks a major break from the past for two key reasons. The joint communique notably elevates artificial intelligence, demographic shifts and cultural industries — issues the forum had long overlooked — to the forefront of regional cooperation to tackle real-world challenges and seize new opportunities facing its 21 member economies. Ye

Nov. 1, 2025

Lee, China's Xi begin summit talks in S. Korea

President Lee Jae Myung began his first summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, with discussions expected to focus on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and economic cooperation. Before the talks, Lee hosted an official welcoming ceremony for Xi to mark his state visit at the Gyeongju National Museum in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. The two leaders meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. (Yonhap)

Nov. 1, 2025

ASEAN defense forum discusses peace cooperation amid hardening Sino-US rivalry

Defense chiefs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its dialogue partners gathered to discuss joint efforts to promote peace during an annual forum in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, amid concerns about China's growing assertiveness, North Korea's military threats and other challenges. The ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) brought together defense leaders of the 11-member association and its eight dialogue partners -- South Korea, the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, Ne

Nov. 1, 2025

Full text of 2025 APEC leaders' Gyeongju Declaration

The following is the full text of a joint declaration adopted by the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, following the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, held in Gyeongju from Friday to Saturday. 1. We, the Economic Leaders of APEC, met in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, from October 31 to November 1, 2025. This year, under the APEC theme "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow," we have advanced our shared objectives through three priorities — Connect, Innovate, Prosper — during our mee

Nov. 1, 2025

Korea, Indonesia vow deeper cooperation in trade, defense, labor

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held their first summit Saturday, exchanging views on key regional and global issues and agreeing to expand bilateral economic and defense cooperation. During the meeting on the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Probowo congratulated Lee on successfully hosting the event, while Lee welcomed Prabowo on his first visit to Korea since taking office in October la

Nov. 1, 2025

APEC leaders adopt joint declaration after summit week

The leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation adopted a joint declaration on Saturday, as they concluded the two-day gathering for discussions on growth and prosperity. The Leaders' Gyeongju Declaration has covered APEC's key agenda items, from trade and investment to digital innovation and inclusive growth, under the theme of "Connectivity, Innovation, and Prosperity." The declaration, for the first time, recognizes cultural and creative industries as a new growth driver for the Asia-Pac

Nov. 1, 2025

Xi announces Shenzhen as host city for APEC 2026 summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday emphasized China’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, announcing that the venue of the next APEC summit would be Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Xi made the announcement during the chair handover ceremony at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province. Xi added that while Shenzhen had been a fishing village only a decade ago, the city has transformed into a modern, internation

Nov. 1, 2025

APEC leaders wear hanbok-inspired scarves for group photo

Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation posed for a group photo on Saturday after the summit’s second session, donning scarves inspired by the traditional Korean hanbok. According to the presidential office, the scarves' design combines the traditional beauty of Korea with the geometric aesthetics of Hangeul, the Korean writing system. The presidential office further explained that the turquoise hue of the scarf draws inspiration from the phrase "semosi oksaek chima" — meaning

Nov. 1, 2025

Lee urges APEC to embrace AI-driven big changes as opportunity

President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday urged the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies to embrace big changes driven by artificial intelligence as an opportunity to contribute to inclusive economic growth. Lee introduced South Korea's initiative, titled "AI-Based Society for All," during the Retreat Session of the APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. "The Republic of Korea envisions a global AI society where people around the world can equally enjoy the benefits of

Nov. 1, 2025

APEC summit draws to close as leaders strive for consensus on free trade

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit was set to close Saturday after a whirlwind of high-stakes diplomacy, with attention focused on whether the leaders of major economies can forge consensus on free trade and multilateralism. The two-day gathering of 21 APEC member economies, joined by international organizations, has focused on ways to strengthen economic resilience and spur growth amid uncertainties driven by a growing tide of protectionism. This year's APEC forum took place amid the

Nov. 1, 2025

N. Korea derides Seoul’s denuclearization push ahead of Lee-Xi summit

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province —North Korea derided South Korea’s bid to raise the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during the summit between the South Korean and Chinese leaders, issuing a sharply worded statement on the day of their meeting. North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho issued a press statement on Saturday morning, the day South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping were set to meet for their first in-person summit later in the day. “T

Nov. 1, 2025

Xi urges APEC biz leaders to uphold multilateralism against unilateralism

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged Asia-Pacific business leaders to reject unilateralism and embrace multilateral cooperation as the only “viable path” to tackling global challenges. "What we choose will profoundly affect the future of the world," Xi said in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit held in the historic city of Gyeongju. "The world has come to a new crossroads — solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit or return of hegemon

Oct. 31, 2025