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President Lee Jae-myung poses for a group photo with world leaders attending a special dinner he hosted at the Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom in Gyeongju on October 29, ahead of the APEC Summit. / Source: Yonhap News

The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit opened Friday in Gyeongju, with President Lee Jae-myung personally greeting the leaders of all 21 member economies as the official host of this year’s forum.

Lee began the day by chairing the first session, an “informal dialogue with invited guests,” attended by leaders from the 21 APEC member economies along with Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Held under the theme “Towards a More Connected and Resilient World,” the summit focuses on promoting trade and investment, strengthening regional connectivity across the Asia-Pacific, and enhancing public–private cooperation to unlock business potential.

According to the presidential office, Lee plans to “play an active role as a bridge-builder to help APEC members reach a consensus on the need for closer cooperation,” adding that the summit aims to restore regional solidarity and reaffirm APEC’s status as the region’s premier economic platform.

Participants include leaders from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, and South Korea. The UAE joins as a special guest along with the IMF.