Busan’s Role in Asia Busan – South Korea’s second-largest city – has long been a linchpin of Asian trade and security. Located at the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, Busan has served as a regional trading hub since at least the 15th century, owing to its well-sheltered harbor and
Introduction APEC 2025, hosted by South Korea under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” is centered in the historic city of Gyeongju. This major summit brings global attention not only to its host city but to the nation as a whole. In particular, the decision to hold
Traditional medical knowledge is moving from the margins to the mainstream of global health policy. As societies age and chronic diseases proliferate, interest is surging in how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and related systems can complement conventional care. In fact, 82% of the world’s population uses some form of
Executive Summary The U.S. policy landscape in 2025 – influenced by President Donald Trump’s recent campaign and initiatives – is strongly geared toward a “Made in America” manufacturing renaissance. Trump’s agenda emphasizes reshoring factories to the United States with aggressive incentives (like tax cuts and special zones) and penalties
Executive Summary: Global student mobility has surged in recent decades – an estimated 6.9 million students studied abroad in 2022 – underpinning university budgets and soft power. The U.S. government’s recent move to decertify Harvard’s student visa program (an attempted ban on enrolling foreign students) exemplifies a rising
Asia-Pacific economies fall into innovation clusters with distinct entrepreneurship capacities. Top “Innovation Engines” (e.g. Korea, Japan, US, China, Singapore) invest heavily in R&D (>2% of GDP) and host world-class universities with active tech-transfer offices. A second tier (“Advanced Innovators” like Australia, Canada, Taiwan, New Zealand, Malaysia,
Asia-Pacific economies harness artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen digital resilience, foster competitive innovation, and pursue sustainable growth. Collaborative initiatives across APEC are aligning technology with strategic goals – from cross-border cybersecurity partnerships to AI-enabled climate action – uniting developed and emerging members in a shared digital future. This analysis applies Porter’s
Higher education across the Asia-Pacific is confronting a convergence of urgent challenges – from high youth unemployment to the digital divide, aging populations, climate change, and rapid economic disruption. The region’s leaders are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for educational innovation, aiming to transform these challenges
Global AI Competitiveness Landscape Asia – Asia’s tech powers are making massive, coordinated investments to lead the next era. China has a state-driven AI strategy aimed at global leadership by 2030. Beijing’s Next-Generation AI Plan (2017) promotes domestic innovation hubs and AI integration across industries, from smart cities to
In the midst of a 90-day pause in the US–China tariff war, city leaders worldwide have a unique window to bolster their leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. Rather than wait on uncertain trade negotiations, proactive cities are moving to develop forward-thinking policies that attract talent, nurture
Executive Summary Most APEC economies grapple with elevated fiscal deficits and debt in the post-pandemic era. APEC's average public debt level has surged to about 104% of GDP in 2023, up from under 100% pre-pandemic. Such sustained deficit spending – while supportive during recent crises – now poses economic risks:
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