Vietnam hosts APEC conference on industrial science & technology



Ha Noi, April 23 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's Science, Technology and Environment Ministry is organizing the 20th conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Industrial Science and Technology Working Group (ISTWG) in Ha Noi from April 23-26.

The conference, the first hosted by Viet Nam since it joined the APEC in 1998, was attended by scientists from APEC member countries, including the U.S., Japan, Canada, China, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei, and international scientists.

On April 23 and 24, the participants are scheduled to exchange views on contagious diseases, policy on science and technology, clean production technology, and scientific and technological information protection.

On the last two days of the conference, the ISTWG will review its work in the past six months and discuss a plan, including a list of new projects, for the coming years.

A seminar on hi-tech agriculture will be held at the conference, focussing on the application of technological advances to agricultural development. The scientists will introduce results of the application of biotechnology and gene technology in the APEC countries. They will also discuss the possibilities of cooperation between APEC member countries and the prospect of setting up a network linking research institutes in the APEC.--VNA