Summary

 

The APEC CEO Summit, held in parallel with the APEC Leaders’ Meeting, concluded its three-day program Oct. 28–31 in Gyeongju, South Korea. The event offered insights on the global economy and key industry trends, including artificial intelligence, energy transition and the growing influence of Korean soft power.

Hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) under the theme “Bridge, Business, Beyond,” the summit brought together more than 1,700 C-suite executives, thought leaders and senior government officials. Keynote speakers included the presidents of the United States, the Philippines, Vietnam and Chile, as well as the prime ministers of New Zealand, Canada and Thailand and senior ministers from Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Leaders underscored the need to strengthen the Asia-Pacific as the world’s most dynamic and interconnected economic region, highlighting AI’s accelerating impact, the evolving digital environment and the importance of resilient infrastructure and private-sector innovation.

Sessions featuring global CEOs addressed AI-driven transformation across industries, the rapid rise of the culture and content economy, and emerging strategies in finance and carbon neutrality. Speakers such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser shared perspectives on the opportunities and risks shaping the next chapter of global growth.

For the international business community, the summit provided a high-value platform to engage with senior policymakers and industry leaders from across the APEC region. Discussions reinforced that the Asia-Pacific will remain central to global economic stability and that deeper public-private collaboration is essential to unlocking long-term investment and commercial opportunities.

Within this context, CACCI is well positioned to strengthen its regional partnerships. With several CACCI member-chamber heads also serving in ABAC, there is significant potential to deepen coordination between the two groups. Enhanced cooperation would help translate ABAC and CACCI recommendations into concrete initiatives supporting inclusive growth and sustained investment across member economies. CACCI can also play a more active role in shaping policy dialogue and aligning business priorities with regional development goals.

Korea emphasized that APEC must continue functioning not only as a forum for dialogue but also as a platform for action—an objective that aligns closely with CACCI’s mission. At a time of rising protectionism and fragmented regulatory environments, regional chambers have a critical role in advocating for open markets, predictable rules and a competitive business landscape.

Since its founding in 1966, CACCI has continued to advance regional economic integration and amplify the private sector’s voice in global forums. Looking ahead, CACCI should continue building partnerships not only with chambers across the region but also with the private-sector arms of intergovernmental organizations, including ABAC, to help drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

 

Meetings on October 26 – November 2, 2025

 

(1) Day 1 (October 26) Arrival in Busan, Korea

 

The delegation arrived in Busan with representatives from the Third Wednesday Association–Young Entrepreneur Group (TWA-YEG), the Kaohsiung Young Entrepreneur Group and CACCI. Day one provided an opportunity for participants to connect and align expectations ahead of the program. The group also finalized preparations for its Oct. 27 meeting with ABAC China Member Zeng Qi, vice president of CITIC Limited.

 

(2) Day 2 (October 27) Site Visit & Bilateral Meeting

 

• LEENO Company Visit:

The delegation was welcomed by LEENO CEO Lee Chae-yoon. TWA-YEG CEO Joseph Huang expressed appreciation for the company’s hospitality and extended an invitation for Lee to visit Taiwan. Both sides shared overviews of their organizations and missions. LEENO, a key supplier of semiconductor testing components, supports major global customers including Taiwan’s TSMC. The visit concluded with a guided tour of the facility and its showroom.

 

• Bilateral Meeting With ABAC China:

The delegation met with ABAC China Member Zeng Qi, vice president of CITIC Limited, along with senior officers from the company. TWA-YEG CEO Joseph Huang congratulated China on being selected to host APEC 2026 and noted that CTBC and TWA-YEG plan to send a substantial delegation. He also emphasized the group’s interest in strengthening long-term cooperation. CACCI senior officer Wenju Liao shared an overview of the chamber’s operations and services.

 

 

(3) Day 3 (October 28) Bilateral Meeting & Welcome Reception

 

Delegates collected their APEC CEO Summit badges and were scheduled for a bilateral meeting with ABAC Viet Nam Member Nguyen Thanh Hung, founder and chairman of Sovico Group, and Tran Hai Linh, chief representative of Sovico. As Nguyen’s prior meeting extended longer than expected, the bilateral meeting was unable to take place. Both sides expressed interest in reconnecting next year.

In the evening, Taiwan’s Representative Office in Korea hosted a welcome reception. Attendees included Lin Hsin-yi, presidential senior adviser and convener of the Economic Advisory Group to the President — who will represent Taiwan at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting — as well as senior government officials, Taiwan’s ABAC members and industry leaders.

In his remarks, Lin highlighted APEC as a critical multilateral forum for economic and trade engagement and an important platform for Taiwan to interact on equal footing with other member economies. He underscored that the Economic Leaders’ Meeting provides a rare opportunity for Taiwan to participate at the summit level under current circumstances.

 

 

(4) Day 4 (October 29) APEC CEO Summit

The day opened with remarks from KCCI and SK Group Chairman Tae-won Chey, who highlighted the importance of supply-chain cooperation and the transformative role of artificial intelligence.

The program also featured special addresses from U.S. President Donald J. Trump and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Sessions brought together a broad lineup of global executives, policymakers and thought leaders, including Deloitte Asia-Pacific CEO David Hill and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

Discussions addressed pressing global economic issues, the role of AI in driving industrial innovation and new business ecosystems, evolving financial and investment strategies, and approaches to energy security and carbon neutrality. RM, rapper and singer of K-pop megagroup BTS, offered insights on the global impact of Korean cultural soft power.

 

 

On the sidelines, CACCI met with ABAC staffs working with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), Mitsui Lines Ltd. and PT. Bakrie & Brothers Tbk, whose CEO also serves as chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). Senior officer Wenju Liao shared CACCI’s planned activities for 2026, extending an invitation to explore initiatives of interest and opportunities for regional collaboration.

 

(5) Day 5 (October 30) APEC CEO Summit

 

Senior government leaders—including UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Viet Nam President Lương Cường, and Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul—shared perspectives on economic resilience and regional integration.

Private-sector speakers included Microsoft Vice President Antony Cook, POSCO Holdings CEO Inhwa Chang, and TikTok Senior Director Eric Ebenstein. Discussions focused on public-private partnerships for the responsible and scalable adoption of AI, resilient supply chains, and insights into next-generation AI strategies for sustainable innovation.

CACCI also met with ABAC Thailand’s Kasemsit Pathomsak, executive chairman of Merchant Partners Limited and vice chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, to discuss a potential courtesy visit next year aimed at reactivating Thai engagement in CACCI activities.

In the evening, TWA-YEG and CACCI attended an exclusive event, Fusion & Renewal: A Dialogue of Regeneration, Culture, and Collaboration Across the Asia-Pacific, co-hosted by MEBO International and PAPER. TWA-YEG and CACCI delegates connected with MEBO Group CEO Kevin Xu, Regent Hotels Group Chairman Steven Pan, and Luciano Paredes, corporate affairs manager of COMEXPeru and ABAC 2024 executive director.

 

 

(6) Day 6 (October 31) APEC CEO Summit Closing

 

The three-day summit, held under the theme “Bridge, Business, Beyond,” concluded with a focus on the “Beyond” pillar, encouraging participants to look past current challenges and shape the future through longterm, sustainable prosperity, new industries, and strategic partnerships. Energy was a key topic throughout the day, encompassing both renewable and non-renewable sources, with discussions highlighting the growing energy demands of AI-driven technologies.

Special addresses were delivered by Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Chilean President Gabriel Boric.

Global CEOs—including SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Jaewon Chey, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, and Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato—discussed data-center energy management, clean-energy transitions, disaster-response technologies, and carbon-neutrality strategies. A major highlight was Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who outlined Nvidia’s vision for accelerating AI development, emphasizing robotics, digital twins, and autonomous systems as transformative tools for the future.

 

 

The summit concluded with Korea formally handing over the APEC CEO Summit chairmanship to Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, which will host next year’s APEC business gathering.

 

(7)  Day 7 (November 1) Thank you Dinner

 

 

At an appreciation dinner hosted by Taiwan’s APEC envoy Lin Hsin-yi, Taiwanese senior officials from the public and private sectors joined Gyeongju Mayor and other local officials. Reflecting on his roots in Tainan, Lin noted that Tainan and Gyeongju signed a sistercity agreement in 2024. He looks forward to seeing the two cities expand cooperation through targeted exchange programs that further strengthen their partnership.

Lin also highlighted APEC as a key platform for Taiwan to engage on equal footing with other member economies. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration amid rapidly evolving global dynamics—including geopolitical shifts, supply chain restructuring, demographic change, and digital transformation—and underscored the critical role of public-private partnerships in addressing these challenges.