Host for ISTWG-Related Meetings

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2008/ISTWG35/017

Agenda Item: P5

Host for ISTWG-Related Meetings

Purpose: Information

Submitted by: Lead Shepherd

HOST FOR THE ISTWG-related MEETINGS

1. THE LIST OF THE HOSTS OF EVENTS REGARDING ISTWG

The list of the hosts of major events related to the ISTWG activities is attached in the Annex, as discussed at the 32nd ISTWG meeting.

II. 5th APEC SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MINISTERS’ MEETING (5th STMM)

2.1 Background

Four years have passed since the 4th STMM was held in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 10-12 March 2004. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd STMMs were held in China, 1995, in Korea, 1996, and in Mexico, 1998, respectively.

The activities of ISTWG have been guided according to the statements of the latest STMM. The 4th STMM recommended to promote the following four key policy issues:

• human capacity building,
• international Science and Technology (S&T) networks,
• connecting research and innovation, and
• strengthening technological cooperation and encouraging best practice in strategic planning.

that have been discussed and conducted in the corresponding subgroups from A to D, respectively, in ISTWG after the 4th STMM. Sustainable growth was raised as a goal through these policy issues, and science and technology were expected to play a pivotal role in APEC’s ability to deliver sustainable growth. Then, an Ad Hoc Task Force on Sustainable Development was formed as a cross-cutting sub-forum in ISTWG after the 4th STMM.

All of the four key policy issues with the goal to achieve sustainable growth still have importance in the present day. However, the weight of importance among those issues might have changed since the 4th STMM, and will change by the next STMM, if we consider the rapid change in economies in the APEC region and urgent needs to solve the global environmental issues to which the APEC region has an impact to a great extent. It is therefore time to renew the policy issues in terms of science and technology for the APEC region.

2.2SEEKING HOST ECONOMY OF THE 5th SMM

First, we should seek a host economy for the 5th STMM, and then to have the STMM held within couple of years, namely by 2008-2010. The previous Lead Shepherd of ISTWG has been seeking the host economy, asking possibility to three economies since 2006. The first two economies already replied with a negative answer. Currently, the third economy, to which the Lead Shepherd has officially asked a possibility, is supposed to reply very soon. Depending on the reply, the host of the 5th STMM may be decided. Otherwise, the Lead Shepherd will continue to seek a host for the 5th STMM. The status will be reported at the head of delegation meeting in more details.

1. 4th APEC Youth Science Festival

ISTWG is waiting for the volunteering economy to host the 4th APEC Youth Science Festival.

1. HOST ECONOMY OF THE 36th& 37thISTWG MEETING

The 37th ISTWG meeting is tohosted by Mexico, which was confirmed during the 36th ISTWG meeting. The 38th ISTWG meeting will be held in APEC Secretariat in Singapore.

Annex

List of the Host Economies for the Major APEC / ISTWG Events

1. Lead Shepherd

Next lead shepherd during 2010-2011 for two years will be Malaysia.