Gyeongju: Ministers and high-level representatives from APEC economies have released a joint statement affirming their commitment to continued collaboration in the cultural and creative sectors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young announced that the joint statement concluded the inaugural APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries. Officials emphasized three key areas of cooperation: connecting economies through CCIs as a catalyst for trade and collaboration, fostering innovation by harnessing digital tools and AI, and advancing prosperity by supporting education, training, and participation in CCIs.
Minister Chae noted that while APEC has traditionally focused on agendas like the digital economy, trade, and energy, there is now a growing recognition of the cultural industry's economic value. He mentioned that the next steps following the agreement would involve establishing a formal framework for continued dialogue and collaboration with China, the next year's APEC host.
Malaysia's Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, expressed that a stronger APEC collaboration in developing cultural and creative industries could be pivotal for regional growth, inclusivity, and innovation. He stressed the importance of integrating the sector into regional value chains and digital trade ecosystems, recognizing cultural products and services as exportable assets deserving of policy support and cross-border investment.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing emphasized the role of CCIs in providing connections in an era marked by disruption, climate anxieties, and social fragmentation. He reiterated Malaysia's readiness to work with APEC partners to advance this sector as both an economic lever and a means of promoting human dignity.
The dialogue, hosted by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, gathered approximately 150 delegates, including culture ministers, official APEC observers, artists, and scholars from 21 member economies. Themed 'CCI: New Horizons for Prosperity', the event serves as a precursor to the APEC Summit in October, which will also take place in Gyeongju under the main theme of 'Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.'