APEC Economies Agree On Closer Cooperation In Creative And Cultural Industries
By Farhana Poniman
GYEONGJU, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- 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.
South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young said the joint statement was the conclusion of the inaugural APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries.
"Officials emphasised three key areas of cooperation, namely, 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.
"Until now, we have discussed various agendas including digital economy, trade and energy, but now we are recognising the economic value of the culture industry," he told a press conference on the sidelines of the APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries here today.
Following the unanimous agreement, he said that the next steps to ensure the dialogue's continuity would be to establish a formal framework for follow-up discussions and collaboration with China, the next year's APEC host.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said that a stronger APEC collaboration in developing cultural and creative industries (CCIs) would be the catalyst for regional growth, inclusivity, and innovation.
He said the sector should be more deeply integrated into regional value chains and digital trade ecosystems, while being recognised as an exportable asset deserving of policy support and cross-border investment.
“Cultural products and services should move beyond exhibitions. They are assets that can shape global narratives and generate sustainable livelihoods.
“In an era of disruption, climate anxieties and social fragmentation, CCIs provide what we need most, which is connection. Malaysia stands ready to work with APEC partners to advance this sector as both an economic lever and an instrument of human dignity,” he said in a written reply to BERNAMA.
Hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the dialogue brings together approximately 150 delegates, including culture ministers, official APEC observers, artists, and scholars from 21 member economies.
Themed “CCI: New Horizons for Prosperity”, the event is 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.”
--BERNAMA