At the invitation of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong will attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week in South Korea from October 29 to November 1.

The summit will be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and will focus on shared global challenges, including artificial intelligence and demographic shifts. South Korea hopes the event will conclude with a joint declaration promoting regional cooperation and sustainable growth.

Over the past three decades, APEC has established itself as a leading regional economic cooperation forum, spearheading efforts to liberalize trade, investment, and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

APEC currently includes 21 member economies, among them major global players such as the United States, China, and Japan. Nine of the members are part of the G20, and together they represent approximately 38% of the world's population, 61% of global GDP, and 47% of global trade.

Vietnam has been an active and constructive participant in APEC for 27 years, helping to advance peace, stability, and economic integration in the region. The country remains one of the most proactive members in proposing APEC initiatives and projects.

Vietnam is scheduled to host APEC in 2027, a move widely supported by fellow member economies.

Vietnam–Korea relations continue to deepen

Vietnam and South Korea established diplomatic ties on December 22, 1992. Over the past three decades, their bilateral relationship has flourished across multiple areas including politics, diplomacy, defense, economics, and culture - at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Bilateral trade reached USD 81.5 billion in 2024, a 7.3% increase compared to 2023. South Korea remains one of Vietnam’s largest sources of tourists.

At the end of 2023, both countries agreed to launch joint research cooperation from 2025 in six key areas: information technology, biotechnology, climate technology, nanotechnology, digital transformation, and new and renewable energy.

Tran Thuong