Opening the dialogue, Chae Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, stressed the transformative potential of the creative sector in an era of rapid technological change. “Founded upon creativity and cultural expression, the cultural and creative industries have evolved beyond artistic representation. Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, highlighted the transformative role of cultural and creative industries, and how APEC provide a great platform for this cooperation. “True cross-fora collaboration is essential if we want to unlock the full potential of cultural and creative industries,” Pedrosa said. As Minister Chae emphasized, this inaugural gathering marked a milestone for APEC.