"Must Focus Investment on Caring for the Young Future Generation"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is applauding at the 2nd session retreat of the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held at the Lima Convention Center in Peru on the 16th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News
President Yoon Suk-yeol proposed the establishment of the 'APEC Future Prosperity Fund' on the 16th (local time) to support the capacity building of youth in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region. The proposal emphasizes that APEC should also focus on investing in the vulnerable young future generation amid crises.
President Yoon made this remark while attending the 'Retreat,' the second session of the APEC Summit held in Lima, Peru, which is a social event for leaders. He stated, "In order to achieve inclusive economic growth amid the global complex crisis, APEC needs to play a greater role."
He explained, "The APEC Future Prosperity Fund will be used to support youth entrepreneurship and economic activities and to promote exchanges among young people within the region."
President Yoon emphasized, "For socially vulnerable groups to advance into the formal and global economy, joint efforts to eliminate digital illiteracy and digital divides are crucial. APEC needs to support the use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and ultra-high-speed internet to back the economic activities of society's members."
He added, "South Korea plans to lead APEC-level efforts to ensure digital accessibility for vulnerable groups and to promote the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small business owners." He also said, "South Korea is introducing future-generation tailored educational methods using new technologies such as 'AI digital textbooks' and plans to explore with member economies ways to effectively and safely integrate AI and other new technologies into education."
Furthermore, he proposed cooperation measures to overcome the climate crisis, which hinders inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
President Yoon stated, "APEC should expand the adoption of clean, carbon-free energy such as hydrogen, nuclear power, and renewable energy to accelerate the energy transition." He added, "Through the 'Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Initiative,' South Korea will cooperate with APEC members to achieve carbon neutrality in an economically viable way."
He emphasized, "South Korea will take the lead in technological cooperation and the establishment of international standards for the hydrogen economy," and added, "We also plan to lead the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and the establishment of nuclear power supply chains."
President Yoon also introduced the upcoming APEC meeting to be held in Gyeongju next year. He said, "Building on Peru's achievements, the Republic of Korea will host the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, a cultural city with a history of two thousand years," and announced, "The theme of the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit will be 'A Sustainable Tomorrow We Create Together.'"
He added, "At next year's summit, we will present a future blueprint to create a more closely connected, more innovative, and prosperous Asia-Pacific region," and concluded, "We look forward to the interest, support, and backing of all leaders for the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
