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.