Pacific Rim energy officials prepared Tuesday to discuss soaring oil prices, possible cooperation in regional energy projects and other issues a day b
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Pacific Rim energy officials prepared Tuesday to discuss soaring oil prices, possible cooperation in regional energy projects and other issues a day before Cabinet-level officials from the region hold their first ever talks with OPEC.
Senior officials from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which includes energy producing nations such as Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia and the United States as well as resource-poor economies like Japan and South Korea, were set to kick off the 7th APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting in the southeastern Korean city of Gyeongju.
The energy meeting is usually held every two years, but because of surging oil prices member economies have scheduled one for this year even after a 2004 meeting in Manila.
The gathering marks the first time that officials from OPEC will attend.
Adnan Shihab-Eldin, OPEC's acting secretary-general, will give a speech on Wednesday, and the meeting that day will include an OPEC-APEC business dialogue.