FM Cho calls for keeping Asia-Pacific 'open, connected' amid economic, geopolitical headwinds

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called on Asia-Pacific partners on Thursday to work together to keep the region "open" and "connected" amid economic and geopolitical challenges testing regional resilience. Cho made the call as he co-led the plenary of a top foreign and trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, highlighting that the Asia-Pacific remains the engine of global growth and the "best hope" for a more prosperous future. "Economic uncertainty, geopolitical tension, climate disruption and demographic shifts are testing both our resilience and our resolve," Cho said in the opening remark. "Together, let us reaffirm APEC's enduring purpose: to keep our region open, connected and forward-looking for the prosperity of all our people," he said. The APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM), jointly led by Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, was held to finalize discussions on key APEC agenda items, including trade and security, as Korea, as the APEC host, seeks to reach a consensus on global trade and other issues on which many countries have differing positions. The AMM miWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times