President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined Asia-Pacific leaders on Saturday in concluding the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where member economies adopted the Gyeongju Declaration—a landmark pact promoting artificial intelligence (AI), digital innovation, and inclusive growth.
The declaration, released after two days of talks chaired by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, reaffirmed APEC’s commitment to “growth that benefits all,” noting that AI and demographic shifts are transforming regional economies.
APEC leaders agreed to focus on three priorities: building a dynamic and interconnected regional economy; preparing for digital and AI transformation; and ensuring shared, inclusive growth. They also endorsed the APEC AI Initiative and a collaborative framework addressing demographic changes.
Mr. Marcos joined fellow leaders for the traditional APEC photo, wearing mint-green scarves made of traditional hanbok fabric.
Lee later turned over the APEC chairship to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will host the 2026 summit.
The Gyeongju meeting, themed “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” marked the first time APEC reached consensus on a coordinated approach to digital and demographic challenges.
