By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

(New Year Message)
Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal,

I would like to thank the Diplomacy Journal magazine for the opportunity to extend my New Year's greetings and wish its readers a productive 2025.

Last in November 16th, during the APEC Leaders' Summit in Lima, Peru transferred the presidency of the forum to South Korea. This instance acts as the primary platform for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Over the past 35 years, APEC has successfully fostered trade and investment integration in the world’s most dynamic economic region, which now represents 62% of global GDP and 48% of international trade. It also serves as a laboratory for best practices and initiatives that promote free trade and investment, contributing to the sustainable economic growth of its 21 member economies.

One of the key achievements of APEC Peru 2024 has been restoring consensus within the forum. Twenty unanimous deliverables were adopted, including the Joint Declaration of Machu Picchu of the Economic Leaders and the Ichma Statement on a New Look at the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific agenda, and several technical-political instruments focusing on transition to a formal economy, the development of clean hydrogen in the Asia-Pacific, participation of women in the economy and principles to prevent and reduce food loss and waste, among others. This momentum will facilitate the adoption of initiatives proposed by the Korean government on its proposed new priorities. 

Peru foresees the success of APEC Korea 2025 to be hosted in the cities of Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju and Incheon, which, under the motto "Connect. Innovate. Prosper," will continue advancing this dynamic agenda, particularly supporting the most vulnerable economic actors by providing them with tools for their social and economic inclusion.

We are ready to firmly support Korea in this endeavor.