On May 16, 2023, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Deputy Secretary-General BEK Bumhym attended the 79th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) which was held on May 15-19, 2023 at the United Nation Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.
This year, the Session was held under the
theme of ‘Accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific
for sustainable development’.
TCS was invited
as one of
representatives of subregional
organizations to speak about TCS’ perspectives on accelerating climate action
and proposing key areas for
possible cooperation among
the subregional organizations
in collaboration with ESCAP. At the dialogue, DSG BEK delivered an
intervention, in which he illustrated the leadership of China, Japan, and
Republic of Korea (ROK) in combatting climate crisis, especially in the area of
technology innovation and policy development.
Additionally, TCS and ESCAP co-organized a
side event at the 79th Commission Session, titled ‘Connecting Local, National
and Regional Strategies to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in Asia and the Pacific’.
The side event took the form of a roundtable discussion among experts from CJK
and Asia-Pacific to showcase climate actions initiated by local governments and
to discuss how to accelerate climate actions at the local level in Asia and the
Pacific.
Along with Ms. Hyoeun Kim, Ambassador and
Deputy Minister for Climate Change of ROK, and Mr. Ganbold Basaanjav Head of
ESCAP Subregional Office for East and Northeast Asia, DSG BEK delivered opening
remarks where he illustrated the importance of exchanging best practices of CJK
and sharing the knowledge to Asia and the Pacific. A keynote speech by Honorable
Naseer Ahamed, Minister of Environment of Sri Lanka was also made at the event.
Furthermore, on May 17, DSG BEK met with ESCAP
Executive Secretary Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana to discuss further
cooperation opportunities between TCS and ESCAP on carbon neutrality,
statistics platforms, and digital connectivity in East Asia. Ms. Armida Salsiah
Alisjahbana welcomed the TCS delegation and the continued cooperation. She also
stressed that CJK have a central role in climate action and called for more
progressive measures from the three countries. DSG BEK expressed his
appreciation to ESCAP for their long support in promoting trilateral
cooperation, namely through the Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of CJK, and
the upcoming International Forum on Trilateral Cooperation, in which ESCAP will
collaborate in convening one of the sessions. The meeting concluded with both
parties agreeing to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the future.
