An organization of universities in Asia and the Pacific is promoting "life-long friendships" among young scholars to contribute to peace and prosperity in the region, one of the group's top administrators said.

"We are trying to foster friendship among young faculty members, which will lead to joint ventures in the future," Richard Drobnick, secretary of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, said in a recent interview with The Japan Times.

The association was established in June 1997 with 34 charter members. It was proposed by four universities in California following the success of the Association of American Universities.