(2nd LD) [APEC 2025] APEC biz leaders gather in Gyeongju for discussions on AI, energy transition
GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Preliminary proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit were well under way Tuesday in the South Korean host city of Gyeongju, bringing together some 1,700 participants from around the globe for deep-dive conversations on implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and energy transition, among others.
On Tuesday, the eve of the official opening of the business gathering, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) hosted a welcome reception for participating global business tycoons attending the event, where they will exchange views on pending global issues, such as AI, digital currency, carbon neutrality and supply chains.
Key attendees at this year's APEC CEO Summit include AI chip giant Nvidia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman, Google's Chief Marketing Officer for Asia Pacific Simon Kahn, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato.
From Korea, Chey Tae-won, SK Group chief and the KCCI chair, Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo are on the list.
Tuesday evening's welcome reception, held at the Hwarang Village in Gyeongju was attended by Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee, SK On Co. Vice Chairman Yu Jeong-joon, Hyundai Motor Co. President Sung Kim, Naver Corp. CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Simon Kahn, chief marketing officer of Google's Asia-Pacific headquarters, among others.
Public sector representatives also attended the reception, including South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue and Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Dato' Mohd Zamruni Khalid.
"Not too far away from here, there is a place called Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, which were a vacation home and a garden for the royal family of the ancient Shilla Dynasty about a thousand years ago," KCCI Chair Chey said in his opening remarks.
"Now, a thousand years after that time, we now have a much larger pond and sea where we can float more glasses for drinks and more ideas," he added. "This is the new APEC."
Chey said the APEC CEO Summit could serve as a platform where companies exchange ideas with each other and develop their businesses into a bigger scale, ultimately making contributions to the human race.
The APEC CEO Summit is scheduled to officially kick off Wednesday at the Gyeongju Arts Center under the official theme "Bridge, Business, Beyond," with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung set to deliver a special address.
The summit will feature nine sessions on AI, finance, the culture industry, digital currency and carbon neutrality on the first day, six sessions on supply chains, semiconductors, digital health and hydrogen on Thursday and five sessions on data centers, healthcare and the energy transition on Friday.
"Korea, known for its innovation and dynamic economy, is the ideal setting for this year's discussions on pivotal issues such as energy transition, digital and AI transformation, trade and biotechnology," said Chey in the host's greeting message for summit participants.
"As the APEC region faces a pivotal moment amid geopolitical shifts and industry transitions, we will explore together ways to foster sustainable growth and unlock future prosperity," he added.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Future Tech Forum, an official sideline event of the CEO summit, also took place, featuring an AI-themed forum by SK Group and a forum on the retail economy, along with another sideline event, K-Tech Showcase, which showcased AI, mobility, robotics and display technologies of Korean firms.
nyway@yna.co.kr
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