The World Trade Organization (WTO) is conducting a WTO Asia-Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course for senior government officials in partnership with Hong Kong University.
   
A spokeswoman of Hong Kong University said Thursday that the course, started on April 18 and due to complete on July 8, 2005, is attended by government officials from 28 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region.
   
The course aims to address the need for developing countries to strengthen the skills and knowledge of their government officials to face the challenges of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).
   
The DDA was adopted at the Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001, which calls for a more coherent approach to trade and development and puts the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the WTO's work program. The DDA is also the centerpiece for current WTO negotiations which will culminate in the Ministerial Conference to be held in Hong Kong in December 2005.
   
The spokeswoman said the course is modeled on the standard three-month trade policy courses held in Geneva at the WTO Institute for Training and

Technical Cooperation, and modified to meet the specific needs and concerns of this part of the world.
   
A total of 43 experts, including 20 experts from WTO Secretariat, and others from leading regional and international academics will be invited as trainers for the course.
   
It is the second time that WTO conducts such a course with Hong Kong University. WTO conducts similar courses in Africa and Latin America.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2005)