Which world leaders are skipping APEC summit?

A dome for an exhibition hall as part of the APEC CEO Summit is installed at Gyeongju Expo Park inside the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — As leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies begin arriving in Korea for this week's summit in Gyeongju, several heads of state are notably skipping the event.

As the host nation, Korea extended invitations earlier this year to the leaders of all member economies.

But for various reasons, a number of leaders will be absent during the two-day APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for Friday and Saturday, according to diplomatic sources.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will not attend, with Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard representing the country instead.

While the reason for her absence remains unclear, some sources cited logistical challenges, noting that Mexico's lack of a presidential jet limits the leader's ability to travel long distances. Former President Andres Manuel López Obrador sold the presidential aircraft in 2023 due to high maintenance costs, and the Mexican presidential office has since relied on commercial flights for overseas trips.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also skipping the summit. Wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin has rarely traveled abroad since the war began, shunning multilateral gatherings.

He skipped APEC meetings in San Francisco and Peru in 2023 and 2024, respectively, as well as recent G20 gatherings. The Kremlin is reportedly set to send Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk as Russia's representative.

Taiwan and Hong Kong will once again be represented by senior officials rather than its leader, in line with their cautious approach toward China's participation in APEC.

Lin Hsin-yi, a senior adviser to the president and former vice premier, will represent Taiwan this year. Lin also attended the 2005 APEC summit in Busan.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, will be represented not by a head of state but by Chief Executive John Lee. Under the so-called "one country, two systems" principle, China claims that Hong Kong, represented by the government in Beijing, is part of its territory.

As APEC grants membership to "economies" rather than sovereign states, participants are referred to as member economies. Under this framework, Taiwan and Hong Kong remain an active participant of the regional forum.

According to APEC organizing committee, most key leaders and representatives are expected to arrive via Gimhae International Airport and travel to Gyeongju in motorcades escorted by security convoys.

Some may enter through Incheon International Airport and then take a domestic flight or the KTX high-speed train to Gyeongju.