"It's pretty overwhelming, to be honest. It's not something I had been expecting," Mr Anderson said this week.
He is one of three university students recently selected to represent New Zealand at Apec Voices of the Future 2009, a prestigious six-day conference for youth leaders from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) countries.
The youth conference will be held in Singapore, from November 9 to 15, in association with the latest annual Apec summit meetings, and several world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, are expected to attend a luncheon for the young delegates.
Mr Anderson lives at Carrington College, a student residential facility, and this year began studying for a BCom in marketing and a BA in politics.
He was "pretty blown away" to have been selected, from more than 20 candidates, as a New Zealand representatives at the youth conference.
The other two New Zealand representatives are from Auckland.
Mr Anderson and Phoebe Harrop, both of Carrington College, had earlier been selected as Otago University candidates for the conference, and had attended a three-day selection event in Auckland last month.
Mr Anderson is believed to be the first Otago University student selected to represent New Zealand at the youth conference for several years.
The Virtual Trade Mission, a US-based international body, will fund his return airfare and accommodation.
Apec was sometimes criticised as "lacking teeth", because its decisions were not binding on members, Mr Anderson said.
However, Apec remained a valuable and open forum for discussing trade issues, with poorer developing countries included as well as wealthier developed nations, he said.
