UN & ADB tackling inequalities in East, South-East Asia
01 Mar '07
3 min read
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), commended East and South-East for reducing abject poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and infant and maternal mortality – all MDG targets.
“All these achievements have been possible due to the combination of high and sustained economic growth with prudent public investments in basic services,” Mr. Kim said.
At the same time, he cautioned that income inequality and HIV/AIDS infection are rising in some countries, and the proportion of people with access to safe drinking water is decreasing in the urban areas.
“We are very glad to have this Forum in Viet Nam,” said UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “As Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General has said, Viet Nam is a world leader in achieving MDGs. We believe Viet Nam has a good story and a lot of good experiences to share in this Forum, not the least are its initiatives on aid effectiveness and One UN pilot.”
The Forum is part of an initiative by UNESCAP, UNDP and ADB. A South Asia regional forum was held in Nepal in October in 2006. A Central Asia Forum is being planned for later this year.
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