Gyeongju: A major South Korean business lobby kicked off its annual forum in the southeastern city of Gyeongju with a focus on supporting the successful hosting of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, officials said. South Korea is set to host the APEC summit in Gyeongju, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

According to Yonhap News Agency, with some 100 days to go before the summit, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) launched the four-day forum to review preparations for relevant events and rally public support. Around 500 participants, including KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won and representatives from large and small businesses nationwide, attended the event. Chey also serves as chairman of SK Group.

"The APEC summit will serve as a historic event to showcase the recovery of Korean democracy, while the APEC CEO Summit will be a major platform to highlight the strength of the Korean economy," Chey said in his opening remarks, referring to the gathering of global business leaders set to take place on the sidelines of the summit.

The CEO summit will bring together leaders from 21 member economies, representing 60 percent of global gross domestic product, along with 1,700 global CEOs, making it the largest business event in the Asia-Pacific region. Chey vowed to work closely with the government to ensure the summit serves as a platform for global corporate collaboration.

He also highlighted various side events, such as the K-tech Showcase and FutureTech Forum, which aim to present the innovation and sustainability of Korean companies, the KCCI said.