By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, held the second lecture of this year's Gyeongju Global Citizenship Education by inviting Chilean Ambassador to Korea Mathias Francke on April 8.

The civic education is an educational program that Gyeongju City invites key figures from APEC member economies every year to raise the international sensitivity and global awareness of its citizens.

Ambassador Francke shared his views on 'Chile's Foreign Policy and a Shared Vision for APEC Korea 2025' with the participants through a Q&A session.

Prior to the lecture, Gyeongju City Mayor Joo Nak-young held a luncheon meeting with Ambassador Francke and asked him to share Chile's rich experience with the citizens, saying, “We are all working together to make the APEC Summit the most successful ever.”

Ambassador Francke served as Chair of the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) when Chile assumed the APEC Chairmanship in 2019, and as Chile's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 2020-2022.

Chile joined APEC in 1994 and held the chairmanship in 2004 and 2019.

Meanwhile, Gyeongju City plans to continue its civic education program in the latter half of this year.