Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun Kyeong (fourth from left in front row) on Sept. 15 poses for a group photo with participants of the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy at the hotel Shilla Seoul in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Ministry of Health and Welfare)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

Seoul is hosting for the first time in the country the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sept. 15 said the talks run from Sept. 15-16 at the hotel Shilla Seoul in the capital's Jung-gu District.

The estimated 480 attendees include ministers and vice ministers from APEC's 21 member countries, representatives from international bodies such as the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Office, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and Asian Development Bank as well as businesspeople.

Under the theme "Innovate, Connect, Prosper: Building a Healthy, Smart and Aging-Responsive Society," the meeting covers the three topics of digital health, healthy aging and mindful youth.

"I am pleased that through the integration of health and the economy, we can explore ways to advance cooperation for a healthy and sustainable future for the Asia-Pacific region," Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun Kyeong said. "Korea will continue to lead regional cooperation and global solidarity."

dusrud21@korea.kr