Shanghai Trains APEC VolunteersFebruary 13 saw Shanghai kick off a five-day intensive training of volunteers for the 2001 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference.The training courses include rites and proprieties in entertaining foreign guests, the current situation of APEC and its development, the basic conditions and demands for APEC Conference in China, etc. Some 400 volunteers coming from all walks of life attended the training and most of them are the experienced workers in foreign affairs or international exchanges. Shanghai has intensified its preparations for this year's hosting of the annual APEC informal leadership meeting and other APEC-related events, scheduled for this fall. Since its establishment, APEC has become one of the most important economic cooperation bodies in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as well. Promoting the liberalization of trade and investment and encouraging economic and technological cooperation have become the two major tasks for the economic body in the region. APEC now includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China' s Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, The United States and Vietnam. By PD Online Staff Li Heng |
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