CONCERNS ABOUT AGEING, HEALTH AND POVERTY MARK OPENING OF 61^st COMMISSION SESSION

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 12 May (UN Information Services) -- The sixty-first Commission session began today with senior officials from 48 member Governments tackling a wide agenda that includes the effectiveness of the UNESCAP’s (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) new initiatives to how members can address their obligations to the elderly as the region’s population ages.

UNESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su said that prospects for 2005 indicate a slowdown in economic growth in the region as the external environment weakens but “increased macroeconomic stability and external strength should enable ESCAP economies to withstand most shocks while working to reduce poverty”.

With these challenges in mind delegates will discuss poverty reduction, managing globalization and emerging social issues under this year’s theme:  Implementing the Monterrey Consensus in the Asian and Pacific Region:  Achieving Coherence and Consistency.

The participants will discuss the multidimensional nature of poverty, pro-poor growth, identification and promotion of good practices, strengthening the capacity of the poor at the community level, provision of basic services to the poor and tourism for the poor.

In the area of management of globalization, the delegates will deliberate on international trade and investment, transport and facilitation and tourism, environment and sustainable development and information, communications and space technology.  The efforts aim to help member Governments to manage globalization efficiently by formulating and implementing effective policies to ”seize opportunities while minimizing the inevitable costs”.

Studies show that the ESCAP region has undergone significant changes in the age structure as a result of declining fertility and increasing longevity.  As population aging has become a major issue challenging some countries in the region, the interlinkages of population, development and poverty will be discussed, as well as emerging issues of health and mortality.

Senior officials taking part in the three-day deliberation are scheduled to wrap up on Saturday, 14 May.  Their recommendations are expected to be presented and endorsed by the ministers on Wednesday, 18 May, at the conclusion of the Session.

Newsworthy Events

Editors are reminded that a number of the world’s top development specialists, captains of industry, United Nations officials and scientists, including high-level representatives from 48 of UNESCAP's 62 members, will be attending.

Friday, 13 May

15:30 - 19:00     Opening ceremony of Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2005 and reception -- top Thai companies sign on to the United Nations’ global compact.

Saturday, 14 May

9:00 - 10:15     Asia-Pacific Business Forum Special Roundtable Session, Part I:  Getting Asia and the Pacific ready for the new arena of globalization.

10:45 - 12:00    Part II:  Coping with economic effects of regional natural disasters.

Monday, 16 May

9:00 - 9:40       Opening Session of the Ministerial Segment by Jaturon Chaisang, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.

9:40 - 12:00      High-Level Panel on Tsunami Recovery Development. How to ensure recovery funds are well spent.

14:00 - 17:00     Plenary Session of the Ministerial Segment, Thailand Foreign Minister to deliver the first statement

Tuesday, 17 May

9:00 - 12:00      Ministerial Roundtable on Financing for Development. New, fresh ideas to fight poverty.

Wednesday, 18 May

11:00 - 12:00     Closing Press Briefing by Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, UNCC Theatre.

For further information, please, contact:  David Lazarus, UN Information Services Bangkok, tel.:  +66 2 288-1861-69, fax:  + 66 2 288-1052, e-mail:  unisbkk.unescap@un.org; website:  http://www.unescap.org/.

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