Inp.polri.go.id - Gyeongju. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders agreed that trade and investment must bring benefits to all economies, according to the “Gyeongju Declaration” adopted at the conclusion of the APEC Summit 2025 in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday (1/1/1015).

“We reaffirm that strong trade and investment are essential for growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and remain committed to deepening economic cooperation amid global challenges,” the joint statement said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Notably, this year’s declaration omitted the traditional reference to maintaining the multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO), reflecting widening policy differences among major economies following President Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency and renewed trade tensions with China.

The leaders also highlighted cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), demographic change, and the creative industry as new growth drivers for the region, key priorities introduced by South Korea as host of the 2025 summit.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)