APEC 2025 in Gyeongju: Advancing a
Sustainable, Connected, and AI-Driven Asia-Pacific Future, Addressing Ageing
Population and Migration
Meeting
in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea (Oct 31–Nov 1, 2025) under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,”
APEC Economic Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deeper regional
cooperation through three priorities — Connect, Innovate, and Prosper —
aligning with the Putrajaya Vision
2040 and Aotearoa Plan of
Action.
Key Highlights:
Connect – Strengthening Trade and Integration
·
Reaffirmed
commitment to open, resilient trade and investment flows and advancing the FTAAP
agenda.
·
Agreed to
boost services sector competitiveness via the APEC Services
Competitiveness Roadmap (2016–2025).
·
Promoted
trade facilitation through AI-enabled, paperless trade and cross-border
e-commerce.
·
Supported
resilient supply chains under SCFAP III (2022–2026).
·
Endorsed
the SEAASR (2026–2030) and the Incheon Plan for structural reform
and financial stability.
·
Called
for enhanced anti-corruption efforts and stronger connectivity
infrastructure, including virtual APEC Business Travel Card
adoption.
·
Recognized
Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) as drivers of growth and
innovation in the digital age.
Innovate – Embracing the Digital and AI
Transformation
·
Highlighted
the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) partnerships to
drive inclusive growth.
·
Reaffirmed
support for the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER) to
bridge digital divides and strengthen data flows and trust in digital
transactions.
·
Endorsed
the APEC AI Initiative,
promoting human-centered, secure, and accessible AI
development, regional AI capacity building, and investment in AI
infrastructure.
Prosper – Ensuring Inclusive and Resilient Growth
·
Committed
to inclusive prosperity by empowering MSMEs and startups through the Lima
Roadmap (2025–2040).
·
Adopted
the APEC Collaborative Framework for Demographic Changes, addressing
aging and population shifts with inter-generational policies.
·
Called
for cooperation on energy security and transition, recognizing the role
of natural gas, LNG, and AI in energy innovation.
·
Supported
sustainable food systems, marine resource conservation, and efforts
against illegal fishing and marine debris.
·
Endorsed
the use of AI and digital health tools to strengthen resilient and
equitable health systems across the region.
Looking Ahead
Leaders emphasized multi-stakeholder engagement with ABAC, PECC,
and other partners to shape APEC’s future agenda. They expressed gratitude to Korea
for hosting APEC 2025 and noted upcoming host economies through 2034, beginning
with China (2026).
2025 APEC Leaders’
Gyeongju Declaration
1. We, the Economic Leaders of
APEC, met in Gyeongju, 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 meetings across the Korean cities of Seoul,
Busan, Jeju, Incheon and culminating in Gyeongju, a thousand-year-old capital with
rich cultural heritage.
2. The Asia-Pacific region stands
at a pivotal juncture. We acknowledge the global trading system continues to face
significant challenges. Further, the rapid advancement of transformative technologies
such as artificial intelligence (AI), and demographic shifts that are reshaping
labor markets, carry profound and long-term implications
for APEC member economies. In this regard, we call for strengthened cooperation
and concrete actions to enable economic growth that benefits all.
3. We underscore that current
circumstances further demonstrate APEC’s importance and role as the premier forum
for regional economic cooperation as well as an incubator of ideas. We will continue
to be guided by our collective mission as set forth in the APEC Putrajaya Vision
2040, with the goal of realizing an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific
community by 2040, for the prosperity of all our people and future generations including
through the implementation of the Aotearoa Plan of Action.
Connect: Building
the World’s Most Dynamic and Interconnected Regional Economy
4. We reaffirm our shared recognition
that robust trade and investment are vital to the growth and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific
region, and remain committed to deepening economic cooperation to navigate the evolving
global environment. We acknowledge the importance of a trade and investment environment
that promotes resilience and benefits for all. We note the various discussions on
the current state and future of global trade and recognize the need for cooperation
among economies in this regard.
5. We will advance economic integration
in the Asia-Pacific region in a manner that is market-driven, including through
the work on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda. We will continue
working together to enhance experience sharing, capacity building, business engagement
and technical cooperation efforts among members, aimed at strengthening member economies’
readiness to participate in high-standard and comprehensive regional undertakings.
6. Recognizing the contribution
of the services sector to economic growth, and the expanding role of digitally enabled
services, we will continue to enhance the competitiveness of APEC economies in this
sector. We take note of the role of the APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap (ASCR)
(2016-2025) in supporting effective reform and growth of the services sector in
the APEC region.
7. We will continue to promote
various trade facilitation efforts, such as measures to enhance transparency, advance
paperless trade and cross-border e-commerce, encourage deeper cooperation on standards
and streamline conformity assessment procedures. We acknowledge the benefits of
these efforts in lowering trade costs and facilitating the participation of micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in cross-border trade. We also recognize the
potential of AI-enabled procedures in facilitating trade and encourage voluntary
experience sharing on AI adoption and related policies.
8. Acknowledging that global
supply chains are facing multiple challenges, we support efforts to ensure resilient
supply chains, as an integral part of global value chains, across the Asia-Pacific
region, including through greater engagement of the private sector in APEC’s relevant
discussions. We reaffirm our commitment to implementing Phase Three of the Supply
Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan (SCFAP III) (2022–2026), strengthening
regional and global connectivity to reduce the impact of disruptions, lower transaction
costs and promote trade. We will foster capacity building, technical assistance
and cross-border collaboration in support of these efforts.
9. We reaffirm our commitment
to promoting innovation, productivity and dynamism across the Asia-Pacific region,
including through structural reform. We welcome the endorsement of the Strengthened
and Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (SEAASR) (2026-2030) as a new and
reinforced framework. We also welcome the endorsement of the Incheon Plan under
the Finance Ministers’ Process.
10. We recognize the detrimental
impact of corruption as a threat in that it transcends borders, distorts markets,
erodes public trust and facilitates crimes, including organized crimes. We reaffirm
that anti-corruption efforts must be more innovative, better coordinated and more
effective. We will continue our efforts to deny safe haven to corruption offenders
and illicit assets.
11. We emphasize the importance
of promoting connectivity in our region. In this regard, we note the work aligned
with the APEC Connectivity Blueprint (2015-2025), including its ongoing final review
to be concluded in 2026. Recognizing the importance of business exchanges in enhancing
regional trade and investment, we welcome APEC’s efforts in facilitating business
mobility and enhancing connectivity through the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC),
and encourage fully participating economies’ uptake and acceptance of the virtual
ABTC. We also reaffirm the importance of quality infrastructure development and
investment.
12. We acknowledge the positive
contribution of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) to economic growth,
and affirm the importance of robust intellectual property protections. We recognize
the increasing role of CCIs in economic growth and their role in fostering people-to-people
ties, as well as in encouraging better understanding and mutual respect among member
economies in the Asia-Pacific. We also recognize the growing role of CCIs in economic
and cultural exchanges in the region, and advances in digital technologies, including
AI, are fostering creativity and enabling innovation across the entire process of
creation, production, distribution and consumption of cultural and creative products
in the APEC region. We note that dialogue and cooperation among APEC economies in
CCIs will contribute to economic growth in the region.
Innovate: Preparing
the Region for the Digital and AI Transformation
13. We acknowledge that advancements
in science and technology can contribute to addressing common challenges and create
new drivers of growth in the APEC region. We also acknowledge that research and
development collaboration, including partnerships among institutions, businesses
and startups, including those related to Science, Technology and Innovation (STI),
voluntary exchanges of scientific talent, and policy and knowledge sharing, as well
as capacity building, can enhance the overall innovative capacity of the Asia-Pacific
region and thereby contribute to its future economic growth.
14. We recognize that the innovation
driven by digital transformation can play a critical role in enhancing connectivity,
productivity and participation of all people and businesses across the Asia-Pacific
region, thereby contributing to the realization of their full economic potential.
We encourage member economies to enhance voluntary information sharing on ICT and
digital policies that accelerate regional economic cooperation, as appropriate.
We remain committed to the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER), and
note with appreciation this year’s work in advancing its effective implementation.
We recognize the need to develop an approach that maximizes opportunities and address
challenges in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, consistent with international
law. We underscore the importance of bridging digital divides, improving digital
connectivity, enhancing digital literacy and making the benefits of digital transformation
accessible to all, including by prioritizing capacity building, policies that build
digital skills and competencies and greater public-private collaboration. We also
emphasize the importance of strengthening trust and confidence in the digital and
AI ecosystem, for our people, workers and businesses, including MSMEs. Recognizing
the increasing importance of data to the digital economy, we will continue our cooperation
on facilitating the flow of data, and strengthening business and consumer trust
in digital transactions.
15. We recognize the potential
of AI to fundamentally reshape economies worldwide by unlocking new frontiers for
innovation, enhanced productivity, improved competitiveness, economic prosperity
and resilience. We hereby endorse the APEC AI Initiative as a joint step toward
advancing successful AI transformation within APEC, building AI capacities at all
levels, including through regional cooperation, and cultivating an investment ecosystem
for resilient AI infrastructure. We also call for continued efforts to enhance security,
accessibility, trustworthiness and reliability in realizing the benefits of AI for
all with balanced and human-centered approaches to our
workforce, education and capacity building policies. We encourage economies to explore
collaborative approaches toward the benefits of AI transformation for and meaningful
participation by all in the AI-driven economy, thereby laying the foundation for
a society where everyone benefits from technological advancements and AI is leveraged
to enhance the well-being of all our people.
Prosper: Addressing
Challenges Together and Sharing the Benefits of Growth with All
16. We affirm the importance
of ensuring that opportunities and benefits of growth and prosperity are enjoyed
by all in the Asia-Pacific. In this regard, we recognize APEC’s prior and ongoing
work to address barriers to economic participation, promote economic empowerment
for all and create an environment for resilient economic growth.
17. We reiterate the importance
of fostering an enabling business environment for MSMEs and startups to grow, including
through supporting entrepreneurship, removing regulatory barriers, enhancing supply
chain networks, strengthening connectivity among key stakeholders, including with
large companies and unlocking opportunities to improve their productivity, efficiency
and ability to innovate. We also note efforts made by economies to promote the development
of MSMEs, such as through the Lima Roadmap to Promote the Transition to the Formal
and Global Economies (2025-2040).
18. Ongoing demographic changes,
characterized by declining birth rates, aging populations and accelerated urbanization,
are bringing about fundamental and long-term transformations to the Asia-Pacific
economy and community. We recognize that the wide-ranging economic impacts of demographic
changes call for our collective response through holistic and inter-generational
policies. In this regard, we endorse the APEC Collaborative Framework for Demographic
Changes, through which we reaffirm our commitment to working together to unlock
new opportunities to maximize economic growth and prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific
region. Acknowledging that the region’s future prosperity depends on empowering
our next generation, we look forward to continuing to provide young people with
the opportunities for development and tools to actively shape their future.
19. We will intensify our cooperation
and coordination to effectively respond to global challenges including energy, food
security, environment, extreme weather events and natural disasters, to build a
more resilient Asia-Pacific. Noting the rising demand for electricity across the
APEC region, we recognize the need to ensure a stable power supply and encourage
economies to diversify their power sources and technologies, support necessary investment
and foster technological innovation, while enabling efficient market operation and
market-based instruments, such as power market design and energy attribute certificates,
to enhance power system flexibility, resilience and stability, in line with domestic
circumstances and priorities. We acknowledge the important role that natural gas
and LNG can play in providing sustainable, secure, affordable and reliable energy
as well as flexibilities in our respective energy systems. Recognizing the vital
importance of modernizing and expanding electricity infrastructure to strengthen
energy security, we acknowledge that enhancing grid infrastructure and deepening
regional interconnectivity can foster more efficient and reliable grids. We note
discussions on renewable energy and energy intensity. We also note the innovative
potential of AI in the energy sector.
20. We underscore the importance
of strengthening food security through minimizing food supply chain disruptions,
promoting productive, resilient and innovative agri-food systems and preventing
and reducing food loss and waste, as well as the efficient use of agricultural resources,
recognizing there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach.
21. We will also collaborate
to improve the resilience of marine and coastal communities and promote the conservation
and management of ocean resources, including by combating illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing and addressing the growing challenge of marine debris, while
leveraging science- and technology-based approaches.
22. We reiterate our commitment
to building resilient, sustainable, accessible, age-responsive, multisectoral and
future-ready health and care systems across the region, while acknowledging the
innovative potential of digital health and AI to enhance patient-centered health service delivery, early detection, diagnosis,
treatment and overall health outcomes. In this regard, we welcome efforts to promote
access to the benefits of digital technologies, such as AI, to improve health for
all and call for stronger collaboration to broaden access to digital health tools
and domestic capacity-building in this field. Recognizing disaster risk management
is a pivotal foundation for economic growth, we endeavor
to secure a safe and resilient future.
Looking Ahead
23. We recognize that robust
multi-stakeholder engagement is one of APEC’s unique features that enhances its
function as an incubator of ideas. We look forward to further strengthening multi-stakeholder
engagement, as appropriate, including with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
and Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), such as through the APEC CEO Summit,
among other events.
24. We thank the Republic of
Korea for hosting the 2025 APEC Ministerial Meeting and the Ocean-Related, Human
Resources Development, Education, Trade, Digital and AI, Food Security, Women and
the Economy, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises, Health and the Economy, Finance
and Structural Reform ministerial meetings, as well as high-level dialogues on Anti-Corruption
Cooperation, and Cultural and Creative Industries. We commend the outcomes of the
36th APEC Ministerial Meeting as an important basis for future cooperation.
25. We thank the Republic of
Korea for successfully hosting APEC in 2025. We also express our sincere appreciation
to the people and city of Gyeongju for the warm hospitality and thorough preparations
for the Leaders’ Meeting. We look forward to the upcoming APEC host years of the
People’s Republic of China (2026), Viet Nam (2027), Mexico (2028), Singapore (2030),
Japan (2031), Chile (2032), Papua New Guinea (2033) and Peru (2034).