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Asia-Pacific nations strengthen cross-border disaster response
Kim Gwang-yong, the head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, delivers a welcome speech during the APEC meeting in Incheon, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
By Park Ung
Disaster management delegations from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members, along with government officials and international representatives, are convening in Incheon for a three-day meeting beginning Wednesday to bolster international cooperation on disaster risk reduction.
APEC, a regional forum of 21 member economies, promotes free trade and economic cooperation across the Asia-Pacific. From Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, South Korea will host the APEC Summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, where leaders are expected to focus on key issues including collaboration on artificial intelligence and strategies to address demographic shifts.
The annual rotating meeting, held this year under the theme “Advancing Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia-Pacific: Partnerships for a Resilient and Prosperous Future,” was hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. It brings together the Emergency Preparedness Working Group and Senior Disaster Management Officials’ Forum on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
A pavilion showcasing Korea’s disaster safety technologies is on display alongside the meeting to promote technical exchange and support related industries. Ten institutions and companies are taking part, aiming to boost exports through presentations on disaster management tools.
The ministry is also set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center and a memorandum of cooperation with New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) during the conference, laying the groundwork for practical international cooperation in disaster management.
Dave Gawn, chief executive of NEMA, said the APEC meeting and memorandum signing mark a meaningful step toward closer collaboration, demonstrating a joint commitment to improving disaster resilience across the Asia-Pacific.
“This meeting will serve as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation in response to the rapidly changing disaster environment,” Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung said. “Korea will continue working across various areas — from policy to technology — to take the lead in global disaster management efforts.”