The world today continues to suffer from conflicts and confrontations. U.S.-China strategic competition is now expanding beyond trade conflicts and is deepening the global political divide. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine War also shows no sign of ending. U.S.-China decoupling has worsened supply chain disruptions in the Indo-Pacific region, and potential security threats have started to become a reality. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have been higher than ever, and North Korea is continuing to miniaturize nuclear weapons and upgrade projectiles. Moreover, the conflict over historical issues between Korea and Japan remains unresolved.

In the post-Cold War era, the Indo-Pacific region enjoyed a period of economic prosperity and rapid development. It now accounts for 65 percent of the world's population and more than 60 percent of the world's economy, and maritime trade in the region has grown to more than half of the world's total. As the fastest-growing region in the world, the Indo-Pacific will need to enhance cooperation to address deepening security threats and achieve sustainable peace and prosperity.

Against this backdrop, this year's Jeju Forum will bring together leaders and experts from government, business, and civil society to identify opportunities to enhance cooperation for sustainable peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.