President Yoon shows off trilateral cohesion at APEC…brief talks with Xi Jinping.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol (from left), U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are seen posing for a commemorative photo at a trilateral summit held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ week in San Francisco, U.S., on November 16 (local time). (Presidential Office Website) 2023.11.17/News1 © News1 Reporter Eunna Ahn

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol demonstrated the robust cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to the world by meeting U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the APEC leaders’ meeting, three months after their last encounter.

On November 17 (local time), President Yoon wrapped up his schedule at the APEC summit in San Francisco, U.S. Even at APEC, the world’s largest regional cooperative body accounting for 60% of the global GDP, President Yoon focused on livelihood and economy.

The three countries showed their solidarity to the international community through the APEC summit. On November 16, President Yoon had a 10-minute meeting with President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida after the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) summit. The three leaders also took a commemorative photo before the meeting.

At the meeting, President Biden told the two leaders, “I have been able to lighten my burdens in performing my duties as the U.S. President, thanks to President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida.”

A high-ranking official from the Presidential Office said, “What the three leaders implicitly agree on is that security and economic cooperation are two sides of the same coin. A partner for advanced technology cooperation should be someone who can be trusted almost 100% in military and political systems, ideologies, and values. The three leaders believe that such a relationship is the one among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.”

President Yoon held a summit with Prime Minister Kishida and also conducted a roundtable at Stanford University on cooperation in advanced technology sectors between South Korea and Japan, and among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. The summit between President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida was the seventh this year.

During the summit, which lasted about 35 minutes on November 16, the two leaders agreed to closely cooperate on expanding exchanges between future generations of the two countries and protecting overseas residents. They also agreed to cooperate based on the spirit of Camp David on major security issues such as North Korea and Ukraine, as the three countries will be working together at the United Nations Security Council from next year.

At the roundtable at Stanford University, President Yoon emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation and leadership in advanced technology, AI and digital governance establishment, and transition to carbon reduction and clean energy. South Korea, which excels in the use of hydrogen such as hydrogen cars and fuel cells for power generation, and Japan, which owns many hydrogen patents, plan to strengthen cooperation in the hydrogen sector in the future.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol is seen having a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the first session of the APEC leaders’ meeting held at Moscone Center in San Francisco, U.S., on November 16 (local time). (Presidential Office Website) 2023.11.17/News1 © News1 Reporter Eunna Ahn

On the other hand, the anticipated South Korea-China summit did not take place, but President Yoon and President Xi had a chance to chat for about three to four minutes before the start of the first session of the APEC leaders’ meeting on November 16. President Yoon expressed his gratitude for the hospitality shown to Prime Minister Han Deok-su, who visited China during the Guangzhou Asian Games, and President Xi responded, “It was a wonderful meeting.” The issue of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia was not mentioned between the two leaders.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is visiting the U.S. for the APEC leaders’ meeting, is seen delivering a keynote speech at the ‘APEC CEO Summit’ held at Moscone Center in San Francisco, U.S., on the afternoon of November 15 (local time). (Provided by the Presidential Office) 2023.11.16/News1 © News1 Reporter Dae-il Oh

◇Strengthening supply chain cooperation at APEC… Proposal for early warning system establishment

In his keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, President Yoon emphasized the need to accelerate supply chain and digital connectivity and the connection of future generations centered on APEC amid the global economic crisis. He suggested that APEC should come up with support measures for the supply chain response capabilities of APEC member countries and companies in the region and establish an early warning system.

At the IPEF summit attended by President Yoon, an agreement was reached to establish a ‘Core Mineral Dialogue’ for the construction of a stable core mineral supply chain. The IPEF will cooperate in securing alternative suppliers, discovering alternative transportation routes, and simplifying export procedures through a ‘Crisis Response Network’ when a crisis occurs in the future.

Also, at the second session retreat of the APEC leaders’ meeting, where opinions were freely exchanged, President Yoon emphasized strengthening the norm-based trade order and digital order. He also declared that South Korea would play a leading role in building a resilient supply chain through cooperation.

In the first session of APEC, President Yoon proposed the establishment of a special initiative at the APEC level to promote ‘smart mobility’ as the most urgent task to overcome the climate crisis and create a sustainable future.

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, explained, “President Yoon’s message was to show South Korea’s responsible leadership in urging solidarity and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, with the first theme being overcoming the climate crisis, the second being the construction of trade and digital norms based on norms, and the third being strengthening the mutual connectivity of the regional supply chain.”

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is visiting the U.S. for the APEC leaders’ meeting, is seen taking a commemorative photo during a meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook at a hotel in San Francisco, U.S., on the afternoon of November 15 (local time). (Provided by the Presidential Office) 2023.11.16/News1 © News1 Reporter Dae-il Oh

Meanwhile, on November 15, the first day of his visit to San Francisco, President Yoon met with Apple CEO Tim Cook.

President Yoon said, “Apple is not only contributing to the growth of our country’s digital innovation ecosystem but also inspiring the innovation of many future generations and companies around the world. Please continue to expand cooperation with Korean companies that have the world’s best technology and capabilities. The Korean government will also support it.”

Cook, revealing that his father was a veteran of the Korean War, said, “Korea has a special meaning to me.” He added, “Apple has signed contracts worth more than $100 billion (approximately 130 trillion KRW) with Korean companies over the past five years, and we hope to continue cooperation and investment.”

yjra@news1.kr