Core Points - The APEC 32nd Leaders' Informal Meeting was held in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1, focusing on the theme "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow" [1] - APEC is a significant cooperation platform encompassing 21 economies along the Pacific Rim, promoting economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region through a unique operational model [3] - The meeting emphasized three priority areas: enhancing connectivity, promoting innovation, and achieving inclusive growth and prosperity [3][4] Group 1 - APEC's commitment to "open regionalism" has facilitated trade and investment liberalization, benefiting both member economies and external economies, thus enhancing the global multilateral trading system [3] - The meeting serves as a collective response to protectionist sentiments, reinforcing support for a rules-based multilateral trading system and providing a platform for major economies like China, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea to coordinate and manage disputes [4] - The "2040 APEC Putrajaya Vision" outlines a grand blueprint for the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing openness, vitality, resilience, and peace, aligning with future development needs [4] Group 2 - The Asia-Pacific region accounts for one-third of the world's population, over 60% of the global economy, and nearly half of global trade, highlighting the importance of cooperation over confrontation [5] - The themes and discussions of the APEC meeting reflect the desire for connection and collaboration among economies in response to the challenges of decoupling and supply chain disruptions [5]

Core Insights - The East Asian cooperation, primarily through the ASEAN and 10+3 mechanisms, is under significant pressure due to U.S. tariffs and geopolitical challenges, necessitating resilience and adaptability for future growth [1][4][12] Group 1: Economic Growth and Challenges - The ASEAN and 10+3 region is projected to have an economic growth rate of 3.8% in 2025, showing resilience amid global trade turmoil, although growth may slow to 3.6% in 2026 due to ongoing challenges [1][2] - The 10+3 cooperation mechanism, which originated in response to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, has evolved to address economic recovery and long-term development, highlighting its crisis-driven nature [2][3] Group 2: Structural Adjustments and Trade Dynamics - The U.S. tariffs pose a direct threat to the export-driven economies of the 10+3 countries, which rely heavily on trade with the U.S. and are now compelled to adjust their export structures [4][5] - Countries like Japan and South Korea have engaged in significant investments and market openings to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs, while ASEAN nations are experiencing internal divisions regarding trade agreements with the U.S. [6][7] Group 3: Regional Cooperation and Integration - The 10+3 cooperation framework is characterized by a strong emphasis on political trust and market complementarity, with a combined population of approximately 2.2 billion, creating a substantial consumer market [3][4] - The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is seen as a vital tool for enhancing regional economic integration, focusing on tariff reductions and unified rules of origin [11][12] Group 4: Future Directions and Strategic Initiatives - To strengthen regional cooperation, the 10+3 countries should maintain ASEAN's central role, implement RCEP effectively, and embrace digital and green economies as new growth engines [8][9] - Enhancing the regional financial safety net and exploring local currency settlements are crucial for increasing resilience against external economic shocks [8][12]