KOREAN NET

The first senior official meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, from Feb. 24 to March 9 saw the chair country Korea suggesting cooperation in artificial intelligence and responses to demographic changes as key agenda. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By Jeon Misun

As chair country of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, Korea has proposed artificial intelligence (AI) and demographics as key agenda topics for the event.

The government on March 9 said that in its role as chair country this year, it suggested "AI cooperation" and "responses to demographic changes" as core initiatives at the first senior officials' meeting (SOM) and affiliated talks in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, from Feb. 24 to March 9.

In AI, officials plan to discuss the inclusive and sustainable use of AI's potential.

For demographics, they gathered the opinions of APEC member states to present a cooperation initiative for viewing problems in the sector as opportunities rather than crises.

Member economies said both agenda items presented by Korea effectively reflected common challenges faced by the Asia-Pacific region and expressed their active interest and support for them.

Over the two-week period, Korea chaired 24 sectoral talks including those of the four main bodies -- Committee on Trade and Investment, Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation, Budget and Management Committee, and Economic Committee -- as well as a conference of APEC's vice finance ministers and central bank deputy governors.

Around 2,000 participants from 21 member economies attended the meetings.

This SOM was the first introduction for officials from APEC member states to Gyeongju, which will host the APEC Summit this fall. Participants reportedly praised the meeting environment, preparation and historical atmosphere of the city.

Slated for October and November, this year's summit will be preceded by additional SOMs on Jeju Island in May and Incheon in July and August, along with ministerial and high-level meetings across 11 sectors including education and trade.

msjeon22@korea.kr