Brunei’s Ambassador to South Korea, Pengiran Hajah Nooriyah binti Pengiran Haji Yussof, visited Gyeongju on Tuesday to assess the city’s preparations for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
As a long-standing APEC member, Brunei is actively engaging with the summit’s host city. The ambassador’s visit included inspections of major infrastructure and cultural landmarks related to the event, such as the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO), Bulguk Temple, Gyeongju National Museum, and key accommodation sites.
Ambassador Nooriyah met with Gyeongju Deputy Mayor Song Ho-jun at City Hall, where both sides expressed interest in deepening ties in sectors like energy and infrastructure. “Gyeongju’s organization is highly systematic and impressive,” said the ambassador. “I hope this summit highlights the city’s historical value and modern potential on the world stage.”
Deputy Mayor Song welcomed Brunei’s interest and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to a successful summit. “Brunei is a valued APEC partner, and we look forward to your active participation in 2025,” he said.
Brunei joined APEC in 1989 and hosted the summit in 2000. It established diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1984, and the two countries have since enjoyed strong and friendly ties.
Gyeongju has recently hosted similar delegations from other APEC member economies including the U.S., China, Japan, and several ASEAN countries. These visits aim to enhance cooperation and ensure smooth logistics ahead of the high-level event.