Korea calls for APEC cooperation on energy supply chains, AI

Korea has urged enhanced collaboration among APEC nations to establish resilient energy supply lines, highlighting the region's susceptibility to disruptions in the Middle East, according to the foreign ministry. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina made this plea during the 37th APEC Ministerial Meeting, which took place via videoconference the previous day.

Co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, the gathering convened foreign and trade ministers from the 21 APEC member countries to explore avenues for fostering cooperation within an Asia-Pacific community and advancing regional economic integration.

Kim emphasized the necessity for heightened cooperation among APEC members to bolster regional energy stability and broaden energy sources. In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), Kim advocated for stronger collaboration in line with the APEC AI Initiative, which was initiated under Korea's stewardship at the previous year's APEC summit in Gyeongju. The Korean leader stated that the country would facilitate regional AI development and deployment by establishing innovation platforms, among other measures.