Universities and APEC Forge Closer Links
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