The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will hold its 75th session from 27 to 31 May 2019 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, which Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has graciously accepted the invitation to attend and deliver a special address at the opening in the morning of 27 May 2019.

 

ESCAP organizes an annual Commission’s session around May every year. For this year, the session will comprise ministerial segments on 27 – 28 May 2019 and senior officials segment on 29 – 31 May 2019. High-level representatives from 53 member countries and 9 associate members in Asia and the Pacific region are invited to exchange views and experiences on the key trends and pressing challenges which affect sustainable development in the region as well as approve the program of work of ESCAP. The theme of this Commission’s session “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” will be the same as the theme for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the ministerial level, to be held in July 2019, and the SDGs Summit to be held in September 2019 in New York. The Commission’s session is an important opportunity for Thailand to share its vision and best practices in advancing economic and social development with the international community.

 

The Commission’s session this year coincides with the first cycle of reviews on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the leaders’ level after it was adopted in 2015 and the process of the United Nations development system reform, which calls for a repositioning of United Nations development efforts and strengthening of the regional commissions, in order to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Thus, ESCAP plays a crucial role in supporting Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).