Adoption of Asia-Pacific AI and Digital Ministerial Declaration for Sustainable Growth

Asia-Pacific Ministers Gather in Incheon
for the First APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting

Amidst the era-defining changes brought by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, ministers responsible for AI and digital affairs from the Asia-Pacific region convened to adopt a joint ministerial declaration outlining a common vision for shared prosperity and sustainable growth.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on August 4 that it hosted the first-ever Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, chaired by Minister Baek Kyunghoon.

Background Hoon, Minister of Science and ICT.

APEC is the world’s largest regional economic cooperation body, with 21 member economies from the Asia-Pacific region. This ministerial meeting marks the first time that ministers in charge of AI and digital affairs from across the APEC region have gathered in response to the transformative changes brought by AI and digitalization.

Notably, despite being the inaugural meeting, all APEC member economies participated, including the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (ministerial level) from the United States, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology from China, and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications from Japan. Their attendance demonstrated strong regional interest in and commitment to AI and digital cooperation.

In alignment with the theme of the 2025 APEC Summit, the Ministry of Science and ICT organized the meeting under the theme of “Digital and AI Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Growth,” dividing discussions into three sessions: innovation, connectivity, and safety.

The meeting focused on several key topics: innovative strategies to enhance economic productivity and efficiency and address social challenges through emerging digital technologies such as AI; measures to improve connectivity so that all citizens in the APEC region can benefit from digital transformation; and the need to respond to AI-driven digital threats, including deepfakes and disinformation.

At this ministerial meeting, a joint ministerial declaration was adopted, encapsulating APEC’s shared vision for AI and digital cooperation. This declaration was the result of intensive working-level discussions among member economies since February, as well as thematic debates held during the ministerial meeting itself.

The declaration is particularly significant as it represents an agreement on AI policy directions among major economies leading the AI sector, such as the United States and China, at a time of intensifying global competition in AI. It is expected to serve as a milestone for further concrete cooperation on AI and digital issues within APEC.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to disseminate the key messages discussed at the ministerial meeting both domestically and internationally, and to further strengthen the foundation for public-private cooperation. To this end, it will co-host the “Global Digital and AI Forum” with the World Bank on August 5 at the Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel.

Minister Baek Kyunghoon of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “How we respond to the new wave of digital technology and AI will determine our future,” adding, “I hope this meeting will serve as a milestone for cooperation toward ‘AI for all.’”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.