Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat Eduardo Pedrosa said on Wednesday that connectivity remains crucial for the development of the Asia-Pacific region. In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in the Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Gyeongju, host city for the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, Pedrosa emphasized that achieving connectivity in the areas of infrastructure, institutional policies, and people-to-people exchanges is crucial for promoting trade and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. "If we think about trade, physical trade, you do need that -- you need the ports, you need the airplanes and so on. But also, we need institutional connectivity so that our policies actually fit together. And then you have people-to-people connectivity so that it's easier for us to understand each other, to increase flows of students, to increase flows of businessmen. I think one of APEC's best-known deliverables, its best-known instrument, is the APEC Business Travel Card. And this makes it easier for businessmen to travel around the world, to [travel] around the region and to make those investments in the economies of the region," said Pedrosa. Guided by the theme "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow," this year's APEC agenda aimed to advance regional connectivity, spur innovation-driven growth, and create a more resilient future for the Asia-Pacific. Established in 1989, APEC has become a dynamic engine of economic growth and one of the Asia-Pacific's most important regional forums. The video shows: Gyeongju, ROK - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Sign of APEC 2025 Gyeongju, ROK - Oct 28, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 2. Exterior of meeting venue of APEC CEO Summit 3. Logo of APEC CEO Summit Gyeongju, ROK - Oct 29, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 3. Interview with Executive Director of APEC Secretariat Eduardo Pedrosa 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director, APEC Secretariat (partially overlaid with shot 5/ending with shot 6): "If we think about trade, physical trade, you do need that -- you need the ports, you need the airplanes and so on. But also, we need institutional connectivity so that our policies actually fit together. And then you have people-to-people connectivity so that it's easier for us to understand each other, to increase flows of students, to increase flows of businessmen. I think one of APEC's best-known deliverables, its best-known instrument, is the APEC Business Travel Card. And this makes it easier for businessmen to travel around the world, to [travel] around the region and to make those investments in the economies of the region." ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 5. Various of cityscape, freeway, high-speed rail ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ Gyeongju, ROK - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 6. Various of traffic, signs, flags, venue of APEC 2025 Gyeongju, ROK - Oct 28, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 7. Various of signs of APEC CEO Summit [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]