00:00APEC leaders are meeting in South Korea and the spotlight is on the high-profile meetings and power plays.
00:07But behind the headlines is a quieter story.
00:10How Asia-Pacific economies are working together in a divided world
00:13and how trust and technology are driving the region's growth.
00:17Harith Ashraf-Hasnan reports from Gyeongju.
00:22For decades, trade has been the anchor of Asia-Pacific growth.
00:26Today, technology is reshaping that growth story.
00:30Yet, as leaders made for the APEC's Economic Leaders Week,
00:33it's trust, not trade or tech, that will determine whether this growth remains steady, inclusive and sustainable.
00:41As host, the Republic of Korea has placed two key issues at the center of the DCS agenda.
00:49Demographic change and artificial intelligence.
00:53Aging populations are reshaping labor's markers, health care and fiscal system across the region.
00:59Meanwhile, AI offers new frontiers of productivity and innovation,
01:04but also raises deep questions about energy use, misinformation and ethics.
01:09The proposed APEC AI initiative aims to build trust in artificial intelligence.
01:17Through transparency, accountability and inclusivity,
01:20ensuring innovation remains both responsible and sustainable.
01:25And that principle, trust runs through all of APEC's work.
01:28Because APEC's decision is unbinding, members can test ideas, adapt and adopt what works.
01:35That model often called concerted unilateralism has delivered real outcomes,
01:41lower tariffs on environmental goods,
01:43smoother custom procedure and stronger digital cooperation.
01:47So as APEC leaders meet in Jeongju,
01:50the real story isn't just about diplomacy or declarations,
01:55it's about the quiet work of building trust,
01:59the true infrastructure that keeps cooperation alive,
02:02even in a fragmented world.
02:04How is Ashraf Hasnan reporting from Jeongju for Awani International?
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