Economic Leaders from across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathered in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, from 31 October to 1 November 2025 for the annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow”, leaders worked collectively to advance shared regional objectives through three key priorities: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.
At the close of the meeting, leaders of the 21 APEC member economies adopted three major documents: the APEC Leaders’ Gyeongju Declaration, the APEC AI Initiative, and the APEC Joint Framework on Demographic Change, setting the tone for the next phase of cooperation across the region.
The Gyeongju Declaration outlines broad areas of collaboration on trade and investment, digital innovation, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. However, what makes this year’s declaration especially significant is the official recognition of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) as a new growth engine for the Asia-Pacific region.
This is the first time in APEC’s history that culture and creativity have been explicitly acknowledged within a leaders’ statement. This milestone underscores the growing understanding of the creative sector’s role in driving innovation, employment, and economic diversification.
Across the Asia-Pacific, cultural and creative industries encompass a wide spectrum of activities, from music, film, and design, to heritage, digital content, and the arts, all contributing not only to cultural expression but also to regional prosperity and identity.
By integrating the creative economy into its long-term vision, APEC is affirming that culture is not peripheral to development but central to the future of sustainable, people-focused growth.
Adelaide City of Music welcomes this landmark recognition and supports APEC’s commitment to embedding creativity at the heart of economic and social progress. As an active member of a UNESCO Creative City Network, the Adelaide City of Music office advocates for the role of culture as both an economic catalyst and a foundation for community wellbeing.
This development aligns strongly with Adelaide City of Music’s mission to promote South Australia’s cultural strengths internationally and to position creativity as a key contributor to the state’s economic future. The recognition from APEC provides valuable momentum for continued collaboration between governments, industries, and creative professionals across the Asia-Pacific region.
Adelaide City of Music looks forward to building on this momentum by strengthening partnerships that support the creative economy, championing South Australian artists and cultural organisations, and ensuring that creativity remains a driving force for sustainable development in the years ahead.