APEC ministers to meet

APEC ministers to meet

TOKYO (AFP): Asia-Pacific science and technology ministers are
to meet in Seoul later this month, shortly before their 18
economies convene in the Philippines for an annual summit,
Japanese officials said.

The meeting, scheduled for Nov. 13-14, will be the second of
its kind following the first such session in Beijing in October
last year, foreign ministry officials said.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) meeting is
to cover ways to enhance regional cooperation in science and
technology as well as review the progress of joint projects
agreed last year, the officials said.

Participants will also discuss ways to develop human resources
and promote exchanges of personnel in scientific and
technological fields, the officials said.

The official said the outcome of the meeting would be
announced during the Nov. 25 APEC summit in the Philippines.

APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the
Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand and the United States.