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Observers pin high hopes on pooling unity, wisdom at upcoming leaders' meetings

With the Republic of Korea due to host the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting this week, followed by China next year, officials, scholars and business leaders have voiced high hopes that the success of both events will boost the region's free trade, growth and governance.

The ROK's southeastern city of Gyeongju — once the capital of the ancient Silla Dynasty on the Korean Peninsula — will host the annual meeting on Friday and Saturday, which will focus on areas such as sustainability, digital transformation and trade cooperation.