Preliminary proceedings of the APEC CEO Summit began Tuesday in Gyeongju, South Korea. Around 1,700 participants from across the globe are engaging in discussions on artificial intelligence and energy transition, among other topics. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a welcome reception for global business leaders.
Preliminary proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit were underway Tuesday in Gyeongju, South Korea, drawing some 1,700 participants from around the world for in-depth discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) and energy transition, among other topics.
On the eve of the official opening, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) hosted a welcome reception Tuesday evening at Hwarang Village in Gyeongju, where global business tycoons exchanged views on pressing issues like AI, digital currency, carbon neutrality, and supply chains.
Key attendees included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman, Google's Asia Pacific Chief Marketing Officer Simon Kahn, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, and Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato. From Korea, participants featured SK Group chief and KCCI chair Chey Tae-won, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.
The reception was attended by Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee, SK On Vice Chairman Yu Jeong-joon, Hyundai Motor President Sung Kim, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon, and Simon Kahn, among others. Public sector representatives present included South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, and Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Dato' Mohd Zamruni Khalid.
In his opening remarks, KCCI Chair Chey noted, "Not too far away from here, there is a place called Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, which were a vacation home and a garden for the royal family of the ancient Shilla Dynasty about a thousand years ago." He added, "Now, a thousand years after that time, we now have a much larger pond and sea where we can float more glasses for drinks and more ideas. This is the new APEC."
Chey said the summit could serve as a platform for companies to exchange ideas, scale up businesses, and contribute to humanity.
The APEC CEO Summit is set to officially kick off Wednesday at the Gyeongju Arts Center under the theme "Bridge, Business, Beyond," with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivering a special address. It will feature nine sessions on Wednesday covering AI, finance, the culture industry, digital currency, and carbon neutrality; six on Thursday on supply chains, semiconductors, digital health, and hydrogen; and five on Friday on data centers, healthcare, and energy transition.
On Tuesday, the Future Tech Forum, a sideline event, included an AI-themed forum by SK Group, a retail economy forum, and the K-Tech Showcase highlighting Korean firms' AI, mobility, robotics, and display technologies.
In his host's greeting, Chey stated, "Korea, known for its innovation and dynamic economy, is the ideal setting for this year's discussions on pivotal issues such as energy transition, digital and AI transformation, trade and biotechnology." He added, "As the APEC region faces a pivotal moment amid geopolitical shifts and industry transitions, we will explore together ways to foster sustainable growth and unlock future prosperity."