The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, is set to gather 21 leaders at the end of the month, presenting a compelling tableau of geopolitical strategies and generational contrasts. Beyond the heads of state from major powers like the United States, China, and Japan, the conference will highlight a striking spectrum of global leadership, from two of the world’s youngest presidents to its longest-serving monarch.
Among the youngest attendees are Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Peruvian President Jose Heri, both born in 1986, making them 39 years old. President Boric, who took office in March 2022 as the youngest president in Chilean history, rose from a background in student activism on a platform advocating for a wealth tax and a 40-hour work week. His administration has demonstrated a strategic alignment with Beijing. In a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May, Boric affirmed that "China and Chile, as staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, must cooperate in safeguarding the common interests of the Global South."
In contrast, President Heri’s path to the summit has been tumultuous and brief. A lawyer who became a lawmaker in 2021, she was sworn in just ten days ago following the impeachment of her predecessor, Dina Boluarte, who was embroiled in corruption charges and accusations of directing a harsh crackdown on anti-government demonstrators. Heri is immediately confronted with the task of navigating the ongoing "Gen Z protest" movement that predates her term. In a bid to restore stability, she declared a 30-day state of emergency on October 21 in the capital, Lima, and other areas. Domestically, doubts persist regarding her ability to steer the country through its current crisis given her brief political history.
On the far end of the longevity spectrum is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei (79), the world's longest-reigning contemporary leader. The Sultan has ruled since 1967, when his father, Omar Ali Saifuddien, abdicated, marking 58 years on the throne. Under his reign, Brunei gained independence from the UK in 1984 and transformed into an absolute Islamic monarchy, leveraging its vast natural gas and crude oil reserves to amass considerable national wealth. Known for his own immense personal fortune, the Sultan is reputed to own a private collection of 7,000 high-end vehicles. Despite its Islamic monarchy status, Brunei maintains relatively stable relations with both the U.S. (participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program) and China (the Sultan made a state visit to Beijing in February).
The summit will also serve as a key international debut for several new leaders. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican Prime Minister Claudia Sheinbaum will attend their first APEC meeting. With both nations recently engaging in significant trade disputes with the United States over tariffs, analysts anticipate they will use the high-level meeting with President Trump to seek a diplomatic breakthrough. Similarly, Takaichi Sanae, Japan's first female prime minister, will make her APEC debut on October 30. Having taken office on October 21, she is set to fully step onto the diplomatic stage following her attendance at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on October 26.
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