US eyes hosting APEC ministerial talks on disaster prevention

The Mainichi Daily news reports that the United States plans a special session to discuss ways to strengthen disaster preparedness when ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum gather in Honolulu next month, according to a senior U.S. official. Following the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan that disrupted global supply chains, Pacific Rim trade ministers agreed in May to enhance cooperation in normalising economic conditions in the event of a major natural disaster in the region.