Senior Officials Including US White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Attend
Asia-Pacific Cooperation Accelerates... Focus on Innovation, Connectivity, and Safety
Adoption of Ministerial Declaration Reflecting Shared Vision for AI and Digital Transformation
For the first time, ministerial-level officials from the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathered to adopt a ministerial declaration reflecting a shared APEC vision in the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. This marks the inaugural meeting of APEC ministers in the digital and AI fields.
On August 4, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that, amid the era-defining changes brought by AI and digital transformation, APEC member economies' ministerial-level officials in the AI and digital sectors convened for the first time. The theme of the meeting was "Digital and AI Transformation for Inclusive Prosperity and Sustainable Growth."
Science and ICT Minister Hoon Bae is delivering a greeting at the 'APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting' held on the 4th at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. Photo by Kyungjo Noh
In his opening remarks at the "APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting" held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyunghoon stated, "Advanced digital technologies and AI will provide new opportunities to address the challenges we face." He continued, "We are now standing before a massive wave of transformation driven by digital technologies and AI," emphasizing, "How we respond to this 'Coming Wave' will determine the future for all of us."
He further stated, "We will focus on expanding universal and meaningful digital connectivity and establishing a stable digital and AI ecosystem," adding, "I hope this meeting serves as a milestone for cooperation towards AI for all, encompassing innovation, connectivity, and ecosystem, based on the diversity and experience of APEC member economies."
The meeting was divided into three sessions?innovation, connectivity, and safety?aligned with the APEC Summit theme. In the session "Promoting ICT, Digital, and AI Innovation to Address Challenges," participants discussed innovative ways to enhance economic productivity and efficiency and solve social challenges through emerging digital technologies such as AI. They shared relevant policies and innovation cases and emphasized the need for international cooperation.
In the session "Enhancing Universal and Meaningful Digital Connectivity," participants explored ways to improve connectivity so that all citizens in the APEC region can benefit from digital transformation. There was consensus on the need to bridge the digital divide, strengthen digital capabilities, and expand investment in AI-based cloud and next-generation communication infrastructure. In the session "Establishing a Safe and Trustworthy Digital and AI Ecosystem," the discussion focused on the need to respond to AI-based digital threats such as deepfakes and misinformation. Participants agreed on the importance of international cooperation to mitigate these threats and build a trustworthy digital ecosystem.
The 'APEC Digital and AI Ministers' Meeting' is being held on the 4th at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. Photo by Kyungjo Noh
At the ministerial meeting, a declaration reflecting APEC's shared vision for AI and digital cooperation was adopted. The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that the declaration is significant because major countries leading the AI sector, including the United States and China, agreed on the direction of AI policy. This declaration will serve as a milestone for concretizing digital and AI cooperation at the APEC level in the future.
In connection with the ministerial meeting, the Ministry of Science and ICT is hosting "Digital Week" until August 6. Digital Week is APEC's flagship event aimed at promoting innovation and development through digital technologies. This year, a series of events were held, including the 71st regular meeting of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group, private sector dialogues, and workshops hosted by the United States, China, and Japan.
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