The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled for the end of October 2025 in Korea, is set to be a pivotal moment for the region amid ongoing global economic uncertainty. Leaders from APEC’s 21 member economies, including the United States and China, will gather to reinforce the forum’s role as a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and practical solutions to shared challenges.
High-level bilateral engagements planned around the meeting highlight the importance economies attach to APEC. President Trump’s announcement of a meeting with President Xi demonstrates its role in fostering dialogue. Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director emphasized that APEC’s strength also lies in reaching consensus on complex issues such as trade and the digital economy, particularly under Korea’s leadership.
The Leaders’ Meeting will be held under the host year theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” Preceding events include the APEC Ministerial Meeting and the concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting, all taking place in Gyeongju from 27 October to 1 November. This will lead to a week of significant policy discussions.
Topics to discuss
Broader economic trends form part of the backdrop. With Carlos Kuriyama, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, noting a moderation in trade performance across the region. Exports are projected to grow modestly compared to last year. Also, sustaining momentum will depend on reducing policy uncertainty through clear signals to businesses, particularly in digital and AI-enabled sectors. APEC provides a venue to advance cooperation on structural reforms such as digital skills development and adaptive economic policy.
A gathering in Korea will also cap a year of intensive initiatives across APEC, ranging from digital and AI cooperation to addressing demographic challenges. Leaders are expected to use the occasion to outline pathways for achieving the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and the Aotearoa Plan of Action, with the aim of promoting inclusive and resilient growth across the region.
References
APEC Secretariat (2025, September 20). APEC leaders to convene in Korea amid heightened global interest . https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2025/apec-leaders-to-convene-in-korea-amid-heightened-global-interest