1. The 66^th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and 
the Pacific will be held under the theme, “Addressing challenges in the achievement of the 
MDGs: Promoting a stable and supportive financial system; and Green growth or environmentally 
sustainable economic growth including through technology and financing” from May 13 to 
19 in Songdo, Incheon. The session will discuss how the Asia Pacific region can achieve 
the MDGs through green growth and a development-friendly financial system.

※ UN ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific): 
A regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia Pacific region. Comprised 
of 62 governments in the Asia Pacific region, it is one of the most comprehensive of 
the United Nations five regional commissions. Also, it is the largest United Nations body 
serving the Asia Pacific region which focuses on enhancing economic, social and 
development cooperation.

2. Korea, since hosting the 47^th Commission Session in 1991, will be holding the 
Commission Session for the second time in 19 years. Taking into account Korea’s elevated 
national status since the 47^th Session, high government officials are expected to visit Korea 
to attend the Session.

ㅇ The Korean government expects a total of 600 people - 20 cabinet ministers including 
the Development Minister of Indonesia and the Economy Minister of Afghanistan, 300 
delegates from 62 member states, 200 officials from the UN and major international 
organizations, and 100 people from non-governmental organizations – to attend the 
Commission Session. 

3. From May 13 to 15, the Senior Officials Segment will be held for the preparation of the 
Ministerial Segment. From May 17 to 19, the Ministerial Segment will be held in which Prime 
Minister Chung Un-chan will be delivering a welcoming speech. Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon 
will be assuming chairmanship for the second time since the 64^th Commission Session, 
which was held in Bangkok from April 24 to 30, 2008.

ㅇ Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan will be hosting the welcoming dinner on May 17. On 
May 18, Dr. SaKong Il , chairman of the Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit will 
give a presentation on the G20 Seoul Summit.

4. Through the Commission Session, which will be held under the theme, “Addressing 
challenges in the achievement of the MDGs: Promoting a stable and supportive financial 
system; and Green Growth or environmentally sustainable economic growth including 
through technology and financing,” Korea hopes to contribute to the economic and social 
development of the Asia Pacific region and enhance the nation’s international standing as 
a leading country in the region.

ㅇ In particular, through the adoption of the Incheon Declaration, the government wishes 
to set a direction to help facilitate the Asia Pacific region’s achievement of the MDGs. 
Also, as a leading green growth country, Korea plans to propose “Low Carbon Green Growth,” 
the government’s main policy, as a new growth paradigm to the international 
community, especially to the countries in the Asia Pacific region.

ㅇ Also, the Korean government wishes to reduce the digital divide among Asia Pacific 
countries and enhance Korea’s contribution to the economic, social development of the 
region through the adoption of the resolution which will make the APCICT, a training 
center slated to be run from 2006 to 2011 on a temporary basis, a permanent organization.

※ APCICT (Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology 
for Development) Outline:

- A specialized organization providing ICT education to help reduce the digital divide 
among ESCAP member countries and enhance human resource development.

- The ESCAP Secretariat assessed APCICT as the most successful center among the five 
regional centers run under the supervision of ESCAP.

- The training center, which was launched in June 2006, is currently being run on a 
temporary basis. The 66^th Commission Session will decide whether to make it a permanent 
organization.

ㅇ The Korean government hopes to lead the discussions on the disabled persons in the 
Asia Pacific region and enhance Korea’s leadership in the region through the adoption of 
the resolution entitled “Regional preparations for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting 
on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled 
Persons, 2003-2012”, which will confirm Korea’s hosting of the intergovernmental meeting.

※ Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons:

- The initiative was launched in 1993 to improve the quality of the lives of people with 
disabilities in  Asia and the Pacific.

- First Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan (1993-2002, Beijing, China), 
Second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan (2003-2012, Biwako, Japan)

- The Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan is being implemented under the 
supervision of ESCAP, and participants of the high level meeting assess the level of the 
implementation of the plan.

 - In 2013, a new Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons plan will be established.