PM calls for thorough preparations for Gyeongju APEC summit

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo presides over a meeting to review preparations for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, in this picture provided by his office, Aug. 20. Yonhap

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called Friday for making thorough preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju next year, his office said.

Han presided over a meeting of government agencies preparing for the November 2025 gathering of leaders from the 21 APEC member economies to check progress and discuss plans for hosting the summit in the city, located some 275 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

"Please make every effort to establish the necessary infrastructure and make other preparations to ensure we host a summit that befits our national status while fully highlighting the rich cultural heritage and Korean image of Gyeongju," Han was quoted as saying.

The meeting brought together officials from the Office of Government Policy Coordination, the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, the interior and safety, culture and land, as well as the governor of North Gyeongsang Province.

"Given there isn't much time left until the summit, I ask relevant ministries and the governments of North Gyeongsang Province and Gyeongju, led by the foreign ministry, to closely communicate and consult with each other and prepare with speed," Han said.

The government decided during the meeting to move the APEC summit preparatory committee from under the foreign ministry to under the Prime Minister's Office and elevate the committee chief from the foreign minister to the prime minister.

The committee will hold a meeting next month led by the prime minister to review and adopt a "2025 APEC Summit Basic Plan" outlining how the summit will be run.

APEC members include Korea, the United States, Japan, China, Russia, Canada and Australia. (Yonhap)