United Nations Asian Pacific Commission

United Nations Asian Pacific Commission Session closes with adoption of Incheon Declaration

INCHEON, REPUBLIC OF KOREA (UN/ESCAP Information Services) - A critical meeting of the United Nations regional arm for Asia and the Pacific ended today with Ministers and diplomats from over 60 countries adopting the Incheon Declaration identifying the critical need for low carbon and clean technology growth strategies for the economies of the region.

Adoption of green growth strategies by countries in Asia and the Pacific for achieving the Millennium Development Goals was the key focus of the 66th Commission Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which finished in Incheon, Republic of Korea today. The session also called for adoption of a common regional financial architecture to increase access to financial services by Asia's poorest and most vulnerable people.

"The resolutions adopted today are critical steps forward in establishing a new economic and social development paradigm for the Asia and the Pacific," said Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. "With the Incheon Declaration, we are committing ourselves to a course taking the people of Asia and the Pacific forward with greater economic opportunities supported by the responsible use of the shared resources of the region."

The Declaration calls for countries to strengthen and adopt green growth strategies in response to the global economic crisis of the past two years and to seek to create a more sustainable development path. The UN Declaration urges governments to use incentives to encourage the private sector to pursue more environmentally friendly practices for both existing business as well as foster the development of sustainable technologies, products and services.

Additionally the Declaration calls for countries to work closely together, creating partnerships to share good practices and technological assistance, while providing both financial and technical support for less developed countries in the region.

"We seek to foster cooperation and connectivity across borders, the sharing of technology and good practices as well as resources," said Dr Heyzer. "The economies of the least developed countries will benefit not only from increased trade and capital flows as the economic recovery that has started in the more developed countries spreads across the region, but also from the longer term increased flow of ideas, expertise and know-how across our region."

The Declaration underscores ESCAP's longer term efforts to create sustained, development for all economies within the region through creating new engines of growth to rebalance the region with greater regional consumption through increased intra-regional trade and accelerating the development of an Asia-Pacific consumer market.

The week long meeting also produced resolutions implementing plans of action on subjects ranging from gender equality to transportation infrastructure and disaster risk reduction.

The ESCAP Commission meets annually, bringing together representatives of the 62 member and associate member States representing over two-thirds of the world's population. The next Commission Session will be held in Bangkok in 2011 and will focus on long-term perspectives on social protection and development.

ESCAP, founded in 1947, is the regional arm of the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific. The Republic of Korea was the host of this Commission Session.

For further information during 13-19 May 2010, please contact:

UN ESCAP Information Services, ESCAP

ENDS

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