a Myanmar delegation led by U Than Aung Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations virtually participated on the occasion of the 77th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) which is being held from 26 to 29 April, 2021.
The theme topic of the session is “Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in the Asia and the Pacific”.
The opening session was held on 26th April. Heads of respective organizations from United Nations, ECOSOC and UNESCAP made opening addresses and the leaders and heads of governments from member countries in Asia-Pacific Region gave the policy statements for building back better from the crises.
On 27th April, the Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations delivered the Country Statement under the Country statement session. Deputy Minister highlighted the implementation of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) towards SDGs achievement, implementation of COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) and formulation of Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan (MERP) as transitional plan. He also informed the implementation of five future programmes of State Administration Council (SAC), participation of ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as the regional cooperation and reiterated Myanmar’s commitment to honouring existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements and other international obligations based on the principle of inclusive and leaving no-one behind.
Moreover, Deputy Minister highlighted that the incessant relationship and support of all development partners including UN and international organizations are substantial in order to achieve successful implementation of SDG goals and for national agendas of MSDP, CERP and MERP as well. He urged for continuation of all development activities in Myanmar, particularly on the areas of humanitarian assistance, health, education, rural development, gender equality and infrastructure development.
According to the agenda, the meeting will be continued to 29 April. The COVID-19 response initiatives in regional and subregional countries, efforts of solving to COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented socio-economic impacts on least developed, landlocked developing and Pacific Island developing countries will be discussed, and the implementation of 2030 Agenda in Asia-Pacific and the subsidiary structure of UNESCAP to its member countries will also be reviewed.
The meeting was attended by 270 delegates from member states, associates members, donor countries and organizations and non-governmental organizations. The meeting was attended virtually by the Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Senior Officials from Foreign Economic Relations Department.
UNESCAP provides the technical assistance to member countries in Asia-Pacific region to strengthen institutional capacities in the areas of macroeconomic policy and financing for development, trade, investment and innovation, transport, statistics, social development, environment and development, ICT and disaster risk reduction and energy.
Myanmar is a member of UNESCAP on April 19, 1948 and Myanmar delegation participates in the annual session of the commission.—MNA
