Hong Kong’s commerce chief on Thursday called for further digital cooperation among countries and regions of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, outlining the importance of creating an “enabling environment” for innovation to thrive.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau, who is in South Korea, attended the Apec Ministerial Meeting, where he shared details of the SAR’s work.

“The rapid development of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, is fundamentally changing our societies at an unprecedented pace,” Yau told officials attending the meeting in Gyeongju.

“To fully harness the benefits and smoothen the transformation process, [Hong Kong] strongly supports deepening Apec’s digital cooperation to foster economic growth and address common challenges.”

Yau said countries and regions should leverage Apec’s “unique role as an incubator of ideas” to advance digital cooperation, while commending South Korea’s efforts in "mainstreaming” AI across Apec’s agenda”.

He also said it is important to offer an enabling environment for digital innovation to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, adding that Hong Kong has been taking concrete action to promote the use of AI.

The city is tackling key challenges that are “impeding an inclusive digital transition”, Yau added.