Rt Hon Don McKinnon
New Zealand Minister for International Trade
Chair, APEC Ministerial Meeting

"APEC will work with universities throughout the Asia-Pacific region to investigate joint science, technology and human resources development projects," the Rt Hon Don McKinnon said today.
APEC Ministers agreed to ask the Asia Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) to establish regular dialogue with two of its working groups: the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group; and the Industrial Science and Technology Working Group.
Mr McKinnon said the APRU initiative will help APEC Working Groups gain access to a prestigious regional grouping of universities with a wide range of expertise.
"This is an innovative development that could be emulated elsewhere in APEC. It is an example of how APEC can work with outside organisations to pursue practical outcomes," Mr McKinnon said.
APRU has also developed the APRUNet, a University-based next generation regional Internet system. It will seek to interface APRUNet with APEC.
APRU is made up of chief executives from 36 of the largest research universities in APEC economies. It was set up two years ago and last year established an APRU-APEC Committee to advise on areas such as science, technology and human resources.
Auckland University is the only New Zealand University represented in APRU.
In April this year APRU put forward a proposal outlining its interest in pursuing cooperation with APEC in 4 specific areas: human capital; technology transfer; sustainable development; and ¡¥big science¡¦ (investment made to benefit regional scientific cooperation).
For further enquiries contact:
Press Secretary, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Jo Coughlan
Phone 025 405082

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