What to expect from 2025 APEC meeting in ROK

The historic city of Gyeongju, located about 270 kilometers southeast of the Republic of Korea's (ROK) capital Seoul, is preparing to host world leaders for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from October 31 to November 1.

Here are the key things you need to know about the upcoming meeting.

What is APEC?

APEC is a grouping of 21 economies that promotes free trade and economic cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.

Its members include major economies, such as China, the United States, Japan, ROK, Australia and Indonesia, as well as smaller Pacific and Latin American nations.

Together, APEC members account for nearly 40 percent of the world's population, half of global trade and over 60 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).

The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is a top-level meeting under the APEC institutional framework. Since the first informal leaders' meeting in Seattle, U.S., in 1993, the economic leaders' meeting has been convened on a yearly basis.

From 1989 to 2023, the value of goods traded within the Asia-Pacific region rose from $3 trillion to $14 trillion, while the average tariff rate fell from over 10 percent to below 5 percent. These figures show how APEC has played a major role in driving regional openness and prosperity over the past three decades.

Why is the 2025 APEC meeting important?

This year's meeting comes amid global economic uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions and debates over the governance of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

The theme of this year's APEC meeting is "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate and Prosper," outlining an ambitious agenda that touches on trade, technology and climate action.

Under the "Connect" pillar, leaders are expected to discuss how to strengthen trade networks and supply chains across the region. This includes supporting World Trade Organization (WTO) reforms and advancing talks on pushing Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda.

"Innovate" focuses on digital transformation and how to ensure everyone can benefit from it. APEC members are set to discuss ways to help smaller economies and vulnerable groups adapt to the rapid shift toward AI and automation.

"Prosper" centers on sustainable growth, particularly clean energy, food security and green investment. Leaders will likely announce measures to accelerate the energy transition, including investments in renewable power and hydrogen technologies. Another goal is to strengthen food supply chains, which have been strained by conflict, climate change and trade disruptions. The agenda also highlights the importance of empowering women, youth and small businesses as engines of inclusive prosperity.

Who will attend?

All 21 APEC economies are expected to send their leaders or senior representatives.

The U.S., China and Japan are seen as key players in shaping the meeting's tone, while emerging economies like Vietnam, Indonesia and Chile will push for more inclusive outcomes.

The APEC CEO Summit, taking place just before the leaders' meeting, will bring together hundreds of business executives to discuss investment and innovation trends.

Among those expected to attend are Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, alongside other corporate and tech leaders from across the Asia-Pacific.

What outcomes are expected?

While APEC summits rarely produce binding agreements, they often set the tone for regional economic cooperation.

Observers will be watching for: a joint leaders' declaration on trade and digital cooperation; commitments to clean energy transition and climate goals; progress on WTO reform and the FTAAP; and new initiatives on digital inclusion and AI governance.

(This is a collaboration with CGTN.)