1. The 66th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific will be held under the theme, “Addressing challenges in the achievement of the
MDGs: Promoting a stable and supportive financial system; and Green growth or environmentally
sustainable economic growth including through technology and financing” from May 13 to
19 in Songdo, Incheon. The session will discuss how the Asia Pacific region can achieve
the MDGs through green growth and a development-friendly financial system.
※ UN ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
A regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia Pacific region. Comprised
of 62 governments in the Asia Pacific region, it is one of the most comprehensive of
the United Nations five regional commissions. Also, it is the largest United Nations body
serving the Asia Pacific region which focuses on enhancing economic, social and
development cooperation.
2. Korea, since hosting the 47th Commission Session in 1991, will be holding the
Commission Session for the second time in 19 years. Taking into account Korea’s elevated
national status since the 47th Session, high government officials are expected to visit Korea
to attend the Session.
ㅇ The Korean government expects a total of 600 people - 20 cabinet ministers including
the Development Minister of Indonesia and the Economy Minister of Afghanistan, 300
delegates from 62 member states, 200 officials from the UN and major international
organizations, and 100 people from non-governmental organizations – to attend the
Commission Session.
3. From May 13 to 15, the Senior Officials Segment will be held for the preparation of the
Ministerial Segment. From May 17 to 19, the Ministerial Segment will be held in which Prime
Minister Chung Un-chan will be delivering a welcoming speech. Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon
will be assuming chairmanship for the second time since the 64th Commission Session,
which was held in
ㅇ Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan will be hosting the welcoming dinner on May 17. On
May 18, Dr.
give a presentation on the G20 Seoul Summit.
4. Through the Commission Session, which will be held under the theme, “Addressing
challenges in the achievement of the MDGs: Promoting a stable and supportive financial
system; and Green Growth or environmentally sustainable economic growth including
through technology and financing,” Korea hopes to contribute to the economic and social
development of the Asia Pacific region and enhance the nation’s international standing as
a leading country in the region.
ㅇ In particular, through the adoption of the Incheon Declaration, the government wishes
to set a direction to help facilitate the Asia Pacific region’s achievement of the MDGs.
Also, as a leading green growth country, Korea plans to propose “Low Carbon Green Growth,”
the government’s main policy, as a new growth paradigm to the international
community, especially to the countries in the Asia Pacific region.
ㅇ Also, the Korean government wishes to reduce the digital divide among Asia Pacific
countries and enhance Korea’s contribution to the economic, social development of the
region through the adoption of the resolution which will make the APCICT, a training
center slated to be run from 2006 to 2011 on a temporary basis, a permanent organization.
※ APCICT (Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology
for Development) Outline:
- A specialized organization providing ICT education to help reduce the digital divide
among ESCAP member countries and enhance human resource development.
- The ESCAP Secretariat assessed APCICT as the most successful center among the five
regional centers run under the supervision of ESCAP.
- The training center, which was launched in June 2006, is currently being run on a
temporary basis. The 66th Commission Session will decide whether to make it a permanent
organization.
ㅇ The Korean government hopes to lead the discussions on the disabled persons in the
Asia Pacific region and enhance Korea’s leadership in the region through the adoption of
the resolution entitled “Regional preparations for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting
on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons, 2003-2012”, which will confirm Korea’s hosting of the intergovernmental meeting.
※ Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons:
- The initiative was launched in 1993 to improve the quality of the lives of people with
disabilities in
- First Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan (1993-2002,
Second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan (2003-2012, Biwako, Japan)
- The Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan is being implemented under the
supervision of ESCAP, and participants of the high level meeting assess the level of the
implementation of the plan.
- In 2013, a new Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan will be established.
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT
* unofficial translation