NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES FIRST FOREIGN APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF CANADA
February 15, 1996 No. 21
AXWORTHY ANNOUNCES FIRST FOREIGN APPOINTMENT TO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF
CANADA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced the appointment of Dr. Han
Sung-Joo of Korea to the Board of Directors of the Asia Pacific Foundation of
Canada (APFC). Dr. Han, who will serve a three-year term, is the first foreign-based board member of the 12-year-old Foundation.
"Dr. Han brings invaluable experience to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and
an Asian perspective that will serve the APFC well as we approach what has been
termed the Pacific Century," said Mr. Axworthy.
Dr. Han is a professor of political science at Korea University and founder and
head of the International Relations Institute. He was Korean Foreign Affairs
Minister from February 1993 to December 1994 and prior to his ministerial
appointment President of the Seoul Forum for International Affairs.
"Dr. Han Sung-Joo's strong advocacy of regional co-operation in all fields
suggests that his contribution will reflect a pan-Asian viewpoint," said the
Honourable Raymond Chan, Secretary of State (Asia Pacific). APFC Board of
Directors Chairperson Michael Phelps added that Dr. Han would be a welcome and
stimulating presence on the Board, which includes a cross-section of distinguished
Canadians.
The APFC was created by an Act of Parliament in 1984 to promote closer ties
between the people and institutions of Canada and those of the Asia Pacific
region. In addition to core programs and services developed to meet that mandate,
the APFC is designated as the site of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation
(APEC) Study Centre in Canada, plays a major role in administering the Canadian
Education Centre (CEC) Network, and is the Secretariat for the Canadian Committees
for the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council (PECC) and the Pacific Basin
Economic Council (PBEC).
Canada will assume the chair of APEC in 1997, which will greatly heighten the
profile of the Asia Pacific in Canada, and of Canada in Asia. The Asia Pacific
Foundation of Canada will play a significant role in related domestic events
during that year.
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