The Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) co-hosted the 32nd Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC)* General Meeting on August 12th, 2025, at the FKI Conference Center in Seoul. The event was organized to mark Korea’s hosting of the APEC summit for the first time in 20 years.

The General Meeting aimed to analyze the complex challenges facing the Asia-Pacific—namely the reorganization of the global trade order, technological innovation, and demographic shifts—from academic, industrial, and governmental perspectives, and to present concrete response strategies.

In his opening remarks, Siwook Lee, Co-Chair of the Korea National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (KOPEC)** and President of KIEP, underscored the heightened importance of PECC’s role in this period of transition, expressing his hope for robust discussions to help the Asia-Pacific emerge as the center of global growth and innovation.

In a video address, Prime Minister Minseok Kim expressed his expectations that the wisdom and insights shared at the PECC General Meeting would develop into concrete initiatives and projects contributing to the success of the APEC 2025 Leaders’ Meeting.

Chang Beom Kim, Vice Chairman & CEO of FKI, stressed the need for cross-border cooperation to tackle the region’s challenges, and called for bold policymaking, innovative ideas, and specialized expertise from governments, businesses, and academia.

Han-koo Yeo, Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony, drawing attention with his introduction of the recent achievements in Korea–U.S. tariff negotiations, concluded amid high uncertainty in the global trade environment.

In the special session moderated by Chul Chung, Co-Chair of KOPEC and President of the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), James Robinson, Professor at the University of Chicago and 2024 Nobel Laureate in Economics, delivered a keynote address. Professor Robinson identified the inability of existing international organizations to deliver tangible benefits to both governments and civil societies as a key cause of the crisis in the multilateral system. He highlighted APEC’s open regionalism as a practical means to overcome intensifying trade barriers and exclusive bloc formations.

Session 1, moderated by Ambassador Antonio I. Basilio, Chair of the Philippine National Committee for PECC (PPECC) and Director of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) International Secretariat, featured a keynote speech by Robin Harding, Asia Editor of the Financial Times, on “The Global Trade Landscape and the World Economy.” Mr. Harding argued that the current crisis in the global trading system reflects a fundamental restructuring of the global economic order, driven by structural factors such as U.S.-China strategic rivalry, technological innovation, and demographic changes.

Session 2, moderated by Arjuna Nadarajah, Chair of the Australian National Committee for PECC (AusPECC), featured Atoosa Kashirzadeh, Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Technologies: Reshaping Digital Future through Regional Cooperation.” Panelist Kai-Cheng Hsu, President and Chief Medical Officer of Acer Medical, emphasized that AI in healthcare should realize social value beyond technological excellence, proposing a vision for the Asia-Pacific to become a global model through improved health equity and regional cooperation.

Session 3, moderated by Chien-Yi Chang, Chair of the Chinese Taipei National Committee for PECC (CTPECC) and President of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), opened with a keynote speech by Fang Cai, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), on “Responding to Demographic Changes and Ensuring Sustainable Prosperity.” Dr. Cai noted that China’s rapid aging provides other middle-income countries with an opportunity to prepare for structural changes in population and stressed the need for investment in human capital (education) after the end of the demographic dividend.

Session 4, moderated by Narongchai Akrasanee, Chair of the Thailand National Committee for PECC (TNCPEC), held a free discussion and Q&A session on the topic of “Beyond 2025: The Way Forward for Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation.” Dr. Akrasanee pointed out that APEC’s founding vision of open regionalism is being challenged by U.S.-China rivalry and protectionist policies under the Trump administration, and called for practical cooperation mechanisms that go beyond existing frameworks.

The significance of the General Meeting lies in its role as a strategic forum for discussing the reconfiguration of the international trade order. It further aims to strengthen cooperation among industry, government, and academia in the lead-up to the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for late October. The diverse expert recommendations presented at the event are expected to be actively incorporated into preparations for the APEC Leaders’ Meeting.

- Title: The 32nd Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) General Meeting

- Topic: Reimagining Asia-Pacific Cooperation: Trade, AI, and Demographics in a Shifting Global Landscape

- Date & Time: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 09:00–17:30

- Venue: Grand Ballroom (1F), FKI Conference Center, Seoul

- Hosts: Korea National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (KOPEC), Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC)

- Organizers: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Federation of Korean Industries (FKI)

- Contact: Eun Kyung Lee, Researcher, KOPEC Secretariat (eklee@kiep.go.kr)