Their goal was to explore ways of working together to tackle those
challenges.
Though proud of the important position the Asia-Pacific region now occupies
in the world's economy, Kim Hak-su, executive secretary of the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), did not
hesitate to admit that the region is still home to 70 per cent of the world's
most poor people. Many earn less than US$1 per day.
"The challenges (to halve the number of people who live in abject poverty by
2015) are to the marginalized developing countries," said Kim during a press
conference held before the opening ceremony of the Senior Officials Segment of
the UNESCAP 60th Commission Session.
"Their economic growth is not as high (as that in China), the financing they
put into development is limited and they are struggling more with social
issues."
Citing lack of water and desertification, Kim also focused on the need to
reach higher economic growth while protecting the nature.
He was echoed by Shen Guofang, China's assistant foreign minister. Shen said
that despite economic development and improvement in the living conditions, the
Asia-Pacific region also faces a number of challenges such as terrorism,
cross-border crime and HIV/AIDS. It still has a long way to go to realize the UN
Millennium Development Goals.
"The United Nations should pay more attention to the issue of development
while stressing peace and security," said Shen at the press conference before
the opening ceremony.
He said China will aim to achieve sustainable development of the economy and
society while participating in regional co-operation in the future.
With the theme of "meeting the challenges in an era of globalization by
strengthening regional development co-operation," the UNESCAP 60th Commission
Session attracted delegates from all its 62 members and associate members,
related international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
The three-day senior officials segment will be followed by a
ministerial-level discussion next Monday through Wednesday. Also held on the
sidelines of the meeting will be forums on sustainable development, least
developed countries, statistics, knowledge economy development and the
Asia-Pacific Business Forum.
There are already a number of regional and sub-regional co-operation
mechanisms across Asia and the Pacific, including the Asia-Pacific Economic
Co-operation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the
Shanghai Co-operation Organization.
Describing the meeting as "future-oriented," Kim expressed confidence that
UNESCAP will become an important platform of co-operation and play a greater
role in promoting co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region.
