1. Minister of Trade, Energy, and Industry Joo Hyung-hwan and Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho represented the government of the Republic of Korea at the 28th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Lima, Peru, on November 17 and 18.

2. At the AMM, the foreign and trade ministers conducted the final review of the deliverables to be produced at the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru, on November 19 and 20; discussed specific policy measures for “Quality Growth and Human Development” -- APEC’s priorities for 2016; and adopted a joint ministerial statement.

3. In the AMM’s session 2 on the food market in the region, Deputy Minister Lee delivered remarks, in which he underscored the need to seek sustainable agricultural development in response to climate change and spoke about the ROK’s policy experience with smart farming, a type of farming using information and communications technology.

4. In session 4 on the development of human resources, Deputy Minister Lee emphasized the need to innovate education in a way that fosters originality instead of transferring knowledge in preparation for the fourth industrial revolution, as well as the need to step up cooperation in the region to increase employment of youngsters, women and other vulnerable social groups.

5. At the “dialogue with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO)” event held during the breakfast on November 17, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo and ministers from APEC member economies discussed ways to respond to protectionism and to promote the multilateral trade regime.


* unofficial translation