ISTANBUL

The leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member states on Saturday adopted a summit declaration recognizing cultural and creative industries as a “growth driver” for the region.

The declaration came after the 21 APEC nations concluded their two-day summit in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, Yonhap News reported.

“We reaffirm our shared recognition that robust trade and investment are vital to the growth and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and remain committed to deepening economic cooperation to navigate the evolving global environment,” the declaration said.

The declaration outlined APEC's key priorities, ranging from trade and investment to digital innovation and inclusive growth amid growing uncertainties in the international economy, all under the theme "Connectivity, Innovation, and Prosperity."

“We acknowledge that advancements in science and technology can contribute to addressing common challenges and create new drivers of growth in the APEC region,” it added.

For the first time, the declaration acknowledged cultural and creative industries as a growth driver for the Asia-Pacific region.

It also said: “We acknowledge the positive contribution of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) to economic growth, and affirm the importance of robust intellectual property protections.”

In addition to the main declaration, the 21 member state leaders approved two separate documents, one on member states' commitment to collaborate on an AI initiative and another addressing demographic changes, both championed by South Korea.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump spoke to APEC business leaders in South Korea and then left the country on Thursday, before the leaders' summit began.

Casey Mace, the senior US official at APEC, represented Trump at the event.