Reaffirming their commitment to continue fostering inclusive, sustainable, and interconnected growth amid climate change and geoeconomic fragmentation, Senior Officials from the
"When we met again in Arequipa, a city that symbolizes resilience and cultural heritage, we further strengthened our resolve as we adopted the Arequipa Goals. These goals, closely aligned with the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and other key initiatives, have laid a robust foundation for promoting equality and inclusion, particularly for people with disabilities, across the APEC region," he added.
Senior Officials reviewed the outcomes of several key ministerial meetings held earlier this year.
Senior officials are seeking to advance trade and investment for inclusive and interconnected growth, addressing emerging issues such as inclusive trade, digital economy, sustainability and resilience.
Senior Officials also exchanged views on APEC's work this year to promote the transition of informal economic actors to the formal economy.
This groundbreaking initiative is designed to guide member economies in supporting informal workers and businesses as they move toward formalization, enhancing their access to global markets. Emphasis is on the role of innovation and digitalization in facilitating this transition.
"This year, we have seen Peru’s efforts and approaches in including more stakeholders in our discussions, making sure we truly listen to diverse voices while we address challenges from climate change to digital technology and artificial intelligence (…) This must continue," said
Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria, the executive director of the APEC Secretariat.
"When there is uncertainty, it is our job, as policymakers and governments to provide the most vulnerable with some degree of certainty, and this is precisely where APEC stands out. Ours is a forum that brings us together to learn, share and work," she continued.
Peru is hosting APEC for the third time after the 2008 and 2016 editions.
21 leading economies
APEC is made up of:
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
Together, they account for 62% of world's GDP, 48% of global trade in goods and services, plus 38% of the planet's population.
Editor's note: Information provided by the APEC Secretariat.