Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced Saturday that leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, hosted by South Korea, reached agreements and consensus on key trade and investment issues. The summit, which was held in South Korea, saw the endorsement of three consensus documents focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and demographic change, including the joint Gyeongju Declaration.
According to Thai News Agency, President Lee expressed confidence in overcoming challenges in South Korea's relationship with China, expressing hope that Beijing would take a more active role in addressing the North Korean issue. In a continued diplomatic effort, Lee is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the day.
President Lee also highlighted the crucial role of the United States in South Korea's relations with North Korea, while acknowledging the involvement of China and Russia. In regional matters, Lee expressed optimism regarding relations with Japan after a meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan's newly appointed female leader. This meeting, the first between the two leaders, came after a period of strained relations due to historical, diplomatic, and economic disputes related to Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.