APEC delegates address health, disaster risks at Dalian Meetings

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Delegates attending the Third Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings in Dalian, China, are addressing a range of pressing issues, from mental health to disaster preparedness.

The series of meetings, being held from August 17 to 28, features approximately 130 meetings, workshops, and dialogues.

"The challenges facing our region are becoming more interconnected, and so is APEC’s response," APEC Secretariat Executive Director Eduardo Pedrosa said in an official statement released on Tuesday (Aug 18).

He noted that as the Asia-Pacific region navigates supply chain disruptions, rapid technological change, and increasingly extreme weather events, discussions are focusing on strengthening resilience, boosting productivity, and expanding opportunities across the region.

During the event, delegates are exploring how innovation and the adoption of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can help boost business competitiveness and create new economic opportunities for local communities.

The meetings also focus on advancing work on interoperable technological standards, an initiative designed to help businesses adopt emerging technologies with greater confidence while supporting deeper regional integration.

Amid the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, disaster preparedness has emerged as a crucial agenda item.

Senior representatives and experts are discussing the development of early warning systems and emergency response management to better equip communities against natural disasters.

Furthermore, the Dalian meetings promote the use of advanced agricultural technologies, including precision farming and biotechnological breeding, to strengthen food supply chains amid growing global disruptions.

In the healthcare sector, with populations aging across much of the region, experts are examining how technologies like AI can support better health outcomes, including improved mental health care.

"This will then feed into the larger discussion that we’ll have during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week this November," Pedrosa said regarding the outcomes of the meetings.

Related news: APEC urges stronger action to protect Asia-Pacific forests

Reporter: Uyu Septiyati Liman
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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