APEC preparations on track – DFA

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said the country is on track with its preparations for the leaders’ summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in November.

“In terms of preparations, we’re going full speed ahead,” Undersecretary Ferdinand Cui said during the opening of the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Science and Technology in Higher Education.

Cui, vice chairman of the APEC 2015 national organizing committee, said several high level meetings are scheduled starting this month as a lead-up to the leader’s meet in Manila on Nov. 18 and 19.

The third part of the senior officials meeting in Cebu will start on Aug. 22 and will be followed by ministerial meetings on finance and structural reform.

Cui joined Science Secretary Mario Montejo and Commission on Higher Education chairman Patricia Licuanan in opening the two-day dialogue at the Philippine International Convention Center yesterday.

Environmental development

In her opening remarks, Licuanan stressed the need to develop the environment to support science and technology in higher education to ensure that, as a region, there is a well-designed innovation system conducive to producing innovators.

“We are positive that APEC members share a far-reaching desire to empower our higher education institutions through regional collaborations and close the gap in terms of the differing levels of advancements in the existing higher education systems among economies,” she added.

At least 40 foreign delegates from APEC-member economies are taking part in the dialogue, which will cover issues on food security and production, environment and disaster preparedness, and marine resources and biodiversity.