"Under this year's theme, 'Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper', we have made meaningful progress across various initiatives toward APEC's vision of an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community," said Ambassador Yoon Seong-mee, Chair of the SOM.
According to an APEC press release on Monday, the meeting marked the final push before leaders and ministers gather later this week to finalize regional cooperation outcomes.
Amid global uncertainty, APEC economies are seeking common ground on challenges that will shape the region's future growth and collaboration.
Throughout the year, officials have advanced cooperation in areas such as paperless trade, digital integration, public health, and services competitiveness, while also strengthening readiness for a comprehensive free trade agreement and regional approaches to artificial intelligence.
"Now, as we enter the season of harvest, we face the task of concluding APEC 2025 discussions and preparing to translate them into tangible outcomes," Yoon said.
Under the “Connect” agenda, officials are focusing on deepening regional integration by enhancing trade facilitation and reducing barriers to trade.
Senior officials also deliberated on the new APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive, and Resilient Services, designed to strengthen regulatory readiness and institutional capacity across finance, digital platforms, and the creative economy.
Under the “Innovate” track, discussions highlighted Korea's proposed APEC AI Initiative and progress under the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER) as key drivers of inclusive, innovation-led growth.
The “Prosper” agenda emphasized structural and social resilience, addressing demographic change, food and energy security, and social protection policies to support long-term well-being amid climate and geopolitical risks.
Korea's proposed Collaborative Framework on Demographic Change was recognized as a forward-looking contribution to regional cooperation.
"This week's discussions show how APEC remains a vital incubator of ideas, where economies build understanding, share solutions, and find common ground even amid global challenges," said Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.
"As we move toward Leaders' Week, progress on regional integration, digital transformation, and long-term resilience is encouraging," Pedrosa said.
"Korea’s priorities, especially around artificial intelligence and demographic change, are helping APEC remain focused, future-oriented, and cooperative," he added.
Over the two-day meeting, officials finalized recommendations to ministers on APEC's annual reports, the next APEC Economic Policy Report topic, outcomes from the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting in Incheon, and the newly endorsed Incheon Plan finance roadmap.
Leaders and ministers will meet later this week to build on the SOM outcomes and set the Asia-Pacific region's strategic direction for the year ahead.
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Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Anton Santoso
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