At the second plenary session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 1, the President calls for proactive response and enhanced cooperation from APEC in face of a fast-changing world.

State President Luong Cuong proposed some major cooperation
directions for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) while addressing
the second plenary session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in
Gyeongju city, the Republic of Korea, on November 1 morning, according to a
report from the Vietnam News Agency.

In his remarks, the Vietnamese President pointed out a
fast-changing world driven by breakthrough sci-tech advances coupled with
strong cultural, social, and environmental changes, which requires APEC
economies to make proactive response and enhance cooperation to seize
opportunities and surmount challenges.

To adapt to the rapid development of artificial intelligence
(AI) and shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and humanistic growth model, he
suggested several major cooperation orientations for APEC.

In particular, APEC members should form a common strategic
vision on developing an innovation ecosystem and promoting a pioneering role in
digital economy and AI governance, especially building necessary standards and
rules to ensure a balance between businesses’ development motivation and the
legitimate interests of people and social progress, as well as to ensure equal
opportunities among economies.

In addition, he went on, APEC needs to focus on building
comprehensive and sustainable infrastructure, along with a safe and reliable
digital ecosystem for digital economy development in the region.

The President also affirmed the need for mutual trust –
trust in cooperation to build a dynamic, modern, safe, happy, and prosperous
future for all in Asia-Pacific.

Sharing Vietnam’s viewpoint, the State leader emphasized
that the country views science, technology, innovation, and digital
transformation as the cornerstone for a new stage of development with fast and
sustainable growth; and that innovation is the cause of all people and the
entire society, demanding the participation of all-level authorities, all
sectors, businesses of all economic sectors, and all people.

With the presence of leaders and heads of delegations of the
21 APEC member economies, the meeting affirmed the members’ determination to
build a resilient region ready to face challenges, achieve sustainable economic
growth, and bring about benefits to all people.

Amid regional and global uncertainties, as well as
intertwined opportunities and challenges, the leaders emphasized the key role
of APEC as the leading regional economic integration forum and an incubator, a
place to test innovative and breakthrough ideas.

Affirming the indispensable role of trade and investment in
regional development and prosperity, they pledged to push ahead with regional
economic integration; enhance connectivity in all three aspects: infrastructure
– institutions – people-to-people exchanges; support the development of small
and medium-sized enterprises; and promote trade facilitation efforts, measures
to enhance transparency and paperless trade, and back efforts to ensure
resilient supply chains in the region and the world at large.

To prepare the region for digital transformation, the
meeting agreed that achievements in science, technology, and AI application
must serve humanity. The leaders encouraged economies to voluntarily share
information on appropriate digital and information technology policies to
accelerate regional economic cooperation; build a safe, reliable, and
accessible AI ecosystem; invest in and develop energy-saving and
environmentally friendly infrastructure.

The event reaffirmed the commitment to implementing the APEC
Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap; enhancing members’ capacity to
participate in the digital transformation process through cooperation,
training, and capacity building; stepping up cooperation to narrow the digital
gap, ensuring that all people gain access to and enjoy the benefits of digital
transformation.

To jointly address challenges and share growth benefits,
participants vowed to strengthen collaboration to effectively respond to
challenges such as energy and food insecurity, natural disasters, and extreme
climate events. In particular, amid demographic changes in the region, leaders
called for a collective, comprehensive, and intergenerational approach to
employment, education, health, and public finance, to overcome challenges and
explore opportunities to foster development and growth for the Asia-Pacific
region.

Concluding the event, the APEC leaders adopted the Gyeongju
Declaration, affirming their strong commitment to jointly promoting new growth
drivers, tapping into the potential and strengths of the forum, and working
towards the goal of building an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful
Asia-Pacific community for the prosperity of all people and future generations.

The leaders also agreed to endorse the APEC Artificial
Intelligence Initiative and the APEC Collaborative Framework for Demographic
Changes to strengthen cooperation in the face of new development trends in the
region and the world.

APEC members congratulated the Republic of Korea for
successfully hosting the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and APEC Year
2025. They also congratulated China on assuming the role of host of APEC Year
2026.

VNA-