According to Yonhap News,

Ministers responsible for telecommunications, information and communication technology (ICT) and digital policy from the Asia-Pacific region adopted a joint statement Monday supporting digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation for prosperity and sustainable growth, Seoul's science ministry said.

Following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Incheon, west of Seoul, the joint statement emphasized a collective commitment to advancing responsible digital transformation and trusted AI development to promote the region's prosperity and sustainability, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The ministers also recognized South Korea's leadership in spearheading a new APEC AI initiative to be developed by the end of 2025, the ministry added.

"High-ranking officials from all 21 APEC member economies, including the United States, Japan and China, participated in the Incheon meeting," Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said during a press briefing following the conference.

"This shows they all recognize the urgency of cooperation on AI and digital policy to sustain growth," he added. "It is meaningful that ministers agreed to elevate digital and AI agendas, previously discussed at the working level, to a ministerial-level statement and set of principles, marking real progress in regional policy coordination."

Bae said the meeting would lay the groundwork for APEC to establish a regular high-level consultative body focused on digital and AI policy.

The event comes ahead of the APEC summit scheduled for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

The summit is expected to draw around 20,000 participants from around the world, including about 3,500 government delegates from the 21 APEC member economies.


colin@yna.co.kr

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Source: Yonhap News (August 4, 2025)