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<p>The Asia-Pacific region is rapidly becoming the main area of growth in the global economy in the 21st century. Recent developments in the movement of people, goods, services, and information are closely linked to the latest round of globalization, of which the effects on this region are particularly dramatic.</p>

<p>The papers in this volume are by leading scholars, business leaders and government officials from the region. They include Yuan-Tseh Lee, Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, who reflects on the global flow of knowledge and talent; and Alfonso Yuchengco, one of the region&#39;s most respected business leaders and diplomats, who discusses transnational businesses, diplomacy, and China&#39;s re-emergence as a world power. Other papers present new insights into the processes and policies governing flows of migrants, trade, investment, transport, information technology, and ideas.</p>

<p>This book originated from the 2006 Annual Conference of the Ritsumeikan Center for Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan, supported by an International Scientific Meetings Grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. It will be of interest to all students and scholars of this dynamic region.</p>

<p>Pookong Kee and Hidetaka Yoshimatsu are Professors in the College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.</p>

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