The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Dialogue: From the Millennium Development Goals to the United Nations Development Agenda beyond 2015 (APMD) during 26-28 August 2013 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok. The AMPD will be the first regional Ministerial dialogue since the release of the Report of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons (HLP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda on 30 May 2013.

The Royal Thai Government and ESCAP have jointly extended invitations to Ministers and Senior Officials of 53 ESCAP Member States and 9 Associate Member States to attend the conference. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand will serve as Chairperson of the conference.

Initiated by Thailand, an elected member of the Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG on SDGs), the APMD is aimed at providing a forum to discuss the region’s priorities and issues in determining the Development Agenda beyond 2015—the year when the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is due be completed. The APMD outcome would serve as the Asia-Pacific region’s input to the global process of formulating the global development goals and agenda, and will be presented to the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2013.

Hosting the APMD is part of Thailand’s pro-active efforts in shaping the direction of the discourse on sustainable development.  It is Thailand’s policy to promote the country’s role in international forums and strengthen cooperation with ESCAP.
   
Further information can be found on the APMD’s website: www.apmd2013.unescap.org

KEY ACTIVITIES INVOLVING
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

1. Opening Session of the Ministerial Dialogue on  Monday 26 August 2013 (09.00 am)

H.E. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, will deliver the opening remarks. He will then participate in the Asia-Pacific Launch of the Report of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, together with the participation of Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Special Adviser to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the Post-2015 Development Planning and a member of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda for the first time.

2. Ministerial Lunch on Monday 26 August 2013 (12.30-14.00 hrs.)

The Ministerial lunch is hosted by H.E. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and will be held at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok.

3. Country statement on Monday 26 August 2013 (16.30-17.00 hrs.)

H.E. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, or his representative will deliver country statement at the United Nations Conference Centre.

4. Reception on Monday 26 August 2013 (1 8.00-20.00 hrs.)

A reception will be hosted by H.E. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Ayudhya Road, Bangkok.

5. Luncheon Presentation on Tuesday 27 August 2013 (12.15-14.00  hrs.)       

 H.E. Mr. Chaikasem Nitisiri, Minister of Justice of Thailand, will present a lunchtime talk for the session.