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yesterday

APEC Leaders Open Gyeongju Summit With Consensus Declaration in Reach

Ministers report convergence on supply chains, digital policy and environmental cooperation, with a WTO-centered approach complemented by targeted plurilateral efforts.

President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hands with Vietnam President Luong Cuong as they meet for summit talks in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 30, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
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Visitors chat near Bulguksa Temple where preparations are taking place ahead of events for attendees of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits in Gyeongju, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Vietnam's President Luong Cuong and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon pose for a family photo, on the day of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, South Korea, October 29, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Overview

  • South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the forum is "very close" to agreement on both a ministerial statement and a leaders' declaration, with negotiations continuing ahead of Saturday's conclusion.
  • Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo reported broad alignment on supply-chain resilience, digital rules and environmental measures, alongside support for a rules-based trading system centered on the WTO and selective plurilateral cooperation.
  • U.S. President Donald Trump departed after meetings with President Lee Jae Myung and China's Xi Jinping and will not attend the leaders' sessions in Gyeongju.
  • Security has been tightened in the host city with about 19,000 police and military personnel, road closures and protest controls as delegations convene.
  • Industry estimates project roughly 7.4 trillion won in nationwide economic impact from hosting, even as visitors face lodging shortages, inflated prices and extra fees in Gyeongju.