- The Minister of Foreign Affairs called for seamless preparations to ensure that Korea contributes significantly to the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region as the chair of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025. -

- The Korean government affirmed its commitment to a successful hosting of APEC 2025. -

1. On May 28, the Preparatory Office for APEC 2025 held its plaque unveiling ceremony* in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, and high-level officials from the Embassies of the United States of America and the Republic of Peru in Korea (Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Joy Sakurai and Ambassador Paul Fernando Duclos Parodi, respectively) -- the other two of the APEC Troika economies**.

  * The ceremony was held in Korean Re Building where the Preparatory Office for APEC 2025 is located.

  ** The APEC Troika comprises the current, immediate past, and next host economies -- the U.S. for 2023, Peru for 2024, and the Republic of Korea for 2025.

2. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul stated that APEC occupies a very special place in the annals of Korea’s foreign policy, highlighting that Korea, as one of APEC’s founding members, has sought to play a crucial role in every development phase of APEC, which has grown into the largest economic cooperation forum beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

3. Reflecting on his past experience of attending as a representative of Korea the APEC Ministerial Meeting where Korea was chosen to host APEC 2025, Minister Cho expressed his expectation that APEC Korea 2025 would bring the Asia-Pacific closer to realizing APEC’s overarching goals and vision.

4. In addition, Minister Cho underscored the importance of Korea’s whole-of-government endeavors and collaborative efforts with the APEC Secretariat, the APEC Troika and all other APEC member economies in preparing for a productive and meaningful APEC 2025, calling for active and unwavering support from all of them.

5. Executive Director Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria pledged the necessary support for the successful hosting of next year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in her congratulatory remarks. Dr. Sta Maria also expressed her anticipation for Korea’s leadership in furthering the implementation of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and in ensuring the Asia-Pacific region maintains its economic dynamism throughout its host year amid these challenging times where international cooperation and coordination in various areas such as climate change, environmental protection, the digital economy, and enhancing of economic inclusivity are needed more than ever.

6. As the world’s largest forum for regional economic cooperation with 21-member economies, including the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, APEC has contributed to the liberalization of trade and investment as well as the inclusive and sustainable growth and development of the Asia-Pacific region, the world’s flagship region in terms of economic dynamism. Korea’s APEC 2025 host year will be a pivotal moment for APEC to review the progress made so far in its long-term goal of the Putrajaya Vision 2040* and other numerous initiatives, as well as the direction of economic cooperation in the region.  

  * The Putrajaya Vision 2040, adopted at the 2020 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), sets the direction for APEC cooperation in three major pillars: 1) trade and investment, 2) innovation and digitalization, and 3) inclusive and sustainable growth.

7. As one of APEC’s founding members and a Global Pivotal State (GPS), Korea will once again create momentum for Asia-Pacific cooperation at the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) by presenting a common vision for the region and leading discussions on regional economic integration. To this end, the Preparatory Office for APEC 2025 was launched early this year to put into full gear preparation efforts for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) and will work to prepare Korea to carry out the full range of activities as the chair of APEC 2025.

※ As the chair of APEC 2025, Korea will host more than 200 APEC-related meetings, including five Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOMs) and sectoral Ministerial Meetings from late 2024 to November 2025, as well as the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) around November 2025.