[On-site Video+] President Yoon's keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit... "Inviting Gyeongju-ro next year."

[Anchor]
President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the CEO Summit held as a side event of the APEC Summit and deliver a keynote speech as the next chairman.

President Yun will present a vision for the next year's Gyeongju APEC summit and call for active participation by businessmen in the Asia-Pacific region.
We will connect to the
site and listen to President Yoon's remarks directly.

[Yoon Suk Yeol / President]
Nice to meet you, APEC businesspeople.

First of all, I would like to thank Chairman Fernando Zavala for successfully leading this year's CEO Summit.

Congratulations to Chairman Chey Tae-won, who will take over the next chairmanship.

Furthermore, following last year, it is a great pleasure to meet all the business leaders of the Asia-Pacific region again here in Peru.

Now in its 30s, APEC has become the world's largest economic partner leading the liberalization of global trade and investment.

It is the entrepreneurs who have written the history of APEC's success.

The passion and innovation of entrepreneurs have achieved a lot of results.

A representative example is the [businessman's travel card] that started in 1997.

I'm sure you have it, but with this card, you can enter and exit the Asia-Pacific area on a fast track without a visa.

At a time when movement was restricted due to the COVID pandemic, it was upgraded to a mobile card.

As safety and convenience increase, more than 400,000 cards are now issued and widely used.

The vision of establishing an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Zone (FTAAP) for economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region began to be discussed more than 20 years ago with proposals from businessmen.

Proposals for regional trade and investment liberalization have been the catalyst for mega-FTAs like RCEP and CPTPP to come to fruition today.

In addition, entrepreneurs have taken the lead in preparing APEC for the future AI era.

Starting with the 'AI Analysis Report' in 2020, last year proposed the establishment of AI norms in the region and mutual cooperation.

Korea has also taken the lead in establishing AI digital norms, starting with the 'New York Initiative' in 2022, the 'Paris Initiative' in 2023, and the 'AI Seoul Summit Seoul Declaration' in 2024.

Businessmen,

Peru, the chair of APEC this year, has achieved many achievements.

Above all, we have prepared [official, roadmap for transition to a global economy].

Creating an inclusive economic environment through innovation and digitalization by 2035,

It will be the foundation for vulnerable groups such as small and medium-sized enterprises, women, and the disabled, which have been marginalized so far, to operate in the official economy.

I highly appreciate Peru's proposal to enhance APEC's inclusivity and sustainability.

In addition, as the chair country, Peru has demonstrated its leadership in reaching an agreement on the work plan for the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area (FTAAP).

Now we are one step closer to APEC's goal of economic integration.

[Preventive reduction principle of food loss and disposal] was also adopted.

By presenting the topic of improving uneven food supply and demand in the region and a sustainable food supply chain system,

It is very timely as a result of re-examining the importance of food security and regional integration.

In addition, the Clean and Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy Guidelines were adopted to respond to the climate crisis, further strengthening cooperation in the hydrogen energy supply chain within APEC.

This is expected to contribute significantly to the implementation of the 2022 [Bangkok Declaration] aimed at a green, circular economy and the transition to carbon-free clean energy.

The Republic of Korea, the next chair country, will continue to develop further by inheriting Peru's achievements this year.

Businessmen,

Now the world is facing a crisis of multilateral trade due to supply chain segmentation and protectionism.

There is also growing uncertainty in the global economy, including the climate crisis, the entrenchment of low growth, and geopolitical risks in Ukraine and the Middle East.

As the chair of next year's APEC, South Korea has heavier shoulders than ever.

I hope that the 2025 APEC summit will mark a milestone in the leap forward and opening a dynamic future for the global economy.

With this hope, the theme of next year's APEC has been set as "Sustainable Tomorrow We Create."

I'd like to talk about three key challenges we'll discuss along with this topic: Connect, Innovate, and Prosper.

The first challenge is Connect.

At last year's CEO Summit, I called for the role of entrepreneurs, emphasizing supply chain connectivity, digital connectivity, and connectivity for future generations.

Stabilization of supply chains is very important for APEC as it is highly interdependent in the region.

The [IPEF Supply Chain Crisis Response Network], which Korea has been chairing since this year, can be said to be an innovative global cooperation platform.

I hope it can be actively used in discussions on stabilizing supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, new norms and orders suitable for the digital age are needed.

The Digital Trade Agreement (DEPA), which Korea has participated in since this year, will be a good platform for digital connectivity.

In addition, the 'Scientist Exchange Card' will be created as a result of the 'Youth Scientist Exchange Initiative' I proposed in APEC last year.

First of all, we plan to test-run it in Korea, Peru, Australia, and the Philippines next year.

We look forward to being the first step in expanding exchanges and connectivity for future generations.

Next year's APEC will be a place to deepen human, material, and institutional connectivity in various ways with the achievements made so far.

The second challenge is Innovate.

Now it's the "AI era of great transformation."

AI is determining corporate competitiveness and national security and changing the paradigm of the global economy.

As APEC accounts for about 65% of the global manufacturing industry, it is important to promote the combination of manufacturing and AI to strengthen the competitiveness of regional companies.

To this end, we will set up a working group to discover and spread 'industrial AI best practices'.

In addition, I would like to propose the creation of the 'APEC AI Standards Forum' to establish a common standard and certification system.

At the same time, in order to properly utilize the innovative value of AI, securing safety and reliability must be supported.

Korea has set up a [Digital Bill of Rights] that contains universal digital norms, and will establish an [AI Safety Research Institute] this month.

In the future, we will contribute to the spread of safe AI by expanding the [AI Safety Research Institute] to a representative AI safety base in the Asia-Pacific region.

The last third is Prosper.

Climate change and energy issues must be addressed for APEC's co-prosperity.

Next year, we plan to hold a [carbon-free energy (CFE) summit] involving the government, international organizations, energy demand companies and suppliers.

Together, we will explore ways to achieve carbon neutrality using carbon-free energy such as nuclear power plants and renewable energy, including hydrogen discussed in Peru this year.

Meanwhile, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the backbone of the national economy is also important.

The proportion of SMEs in APEC is about 97%, generating more than 50% of employment.

Following Peru's [official, roadmap for transition to a global economy], we will prepare various opportunities next year, including a 'Start-up Forum' to enhance the innovation and competitiveness of SMEs in the region.

APEC Businesspeople,

Next year's APEC Summit will be held in Gyeongju, a 'thousand-year old city' that has the history and culture of the Republic of Korea.

It is very meaningful that the APEC Leaders Meeting in Busan in 2005 will be held again in Korea for the first time in 20 years.

Above all, people around the world will pay attention to the 'CEO Summit' with influential global entrepreneurs.

I hope that you will pay a lot of attention and actively participate in APEC.

The whole city invites you to Gyeongju, a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Museum Without Roofs.

I'll see you in Korea next year.

Thank you.