South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT will expand international cooperation in the AI and digital sectors with the World Bank.

The ministry will hold the Global AI and Digital Summit (GADS) at the Grand Hyatt Seoul from Oct. 19 to 22. It is the first AI and digital summit hosted by the World Bank outside the United States.

The event will begin with an AI and digital ministerial meeting on Oct. 19. It will be followed by a policy forum and corporate exhibition on Oct. 20 to 21, and a study tour on Oct. 22 on the use of AI and digital technology.

About 60 countries will attend the ministerial meeting on Oct. 19, with minister- and vice minister-level representatives and officials from international organisations including the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), who is also deputy prime minister, and World Bank Vice President Kim Sang-bu (김상부) will co-chair the meeting.

The ministerial meeting will be held under the theme "From Ambition to Action" and will focus on three main agenda items: expanding digital inclusion and access, innovation in public services using AI, and building an innovative AI and digital ecosystem. Bae and Kim will issue a chair's statement covering key discussions and cooperation plans.

At the policy forum on Oct. 20 to 21, experts from governments, international organisations, industry and academia will share key policies and technology trends in AI and digital fields. An exhibition with participation by companies from South Korea and abroad will also be held during the same period. Government and business participants will review innovative AI and digital technologies and services and explore possibilities for technological cooperation.

On Oct. 22, a study tour for overseas participants will include visits to the Korea Water Resources Corp and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. The plan is to review ways to apply South Korea's examples of using AI and digital technologies to countries' digital transformation policies.

Bae said, "We will actively cooperate with the international community so that the benefits can be evenly shared by all humanity through responsible use of AI." He added, "I hope this event will be a venue for cooperation and communication that turns the vision for realising a global AI-based society into action."