A meeting of the Health Working Group of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Korea opens on March 4 in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. (APEC 2025 Korea's official Flickr account)

By Jeon Misun

Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, is hosting the three-day meeting of the Health Working Group of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Ending on March 6, the talks have attracted around 180 participants from 18 APEC member countries including the U.S., Japan and China plus those from academia, industry and civic groups. The participants will discuss health cooperation under the theme, "Ensuring Health for All for a Sustainable Future."

This meeting's agenda comprises "strengthening global cooperation for responding to health crises," "improving universal health through digital technology" and "achieving shared prosperity through overcoming health challenges."

Other topics include monitoring infectious diseases based on artificial intelligence and big data, accelerating cooperation in the development of vaccines and treatments, reinforcing supply chains and improving accessibility to health care.

"As the APEC chair this year, Korea aims to lead focused discussions on key areas where we can make significant contributions to improving public health in the Asia-Pacific region, including digital health and health crisis response," Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong said.

"Leading up to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in October, we will maintain continuous engagement with member economies to achieve shared outcomes and fulfill (our) role as a responsible partner in the Asia-Pacific region."

msjeon22@korea.kr