1. Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will attend the 72nd session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 17 till 19.

2. The 72nd UN ESCAP session themed “science, technology and innovation for sustainable development” will cover ways to promote cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region for socio-economic development.

3. Vice Minister Cho will deliver a keynote speech at the session on May 18, in which he will share with the other participants the Republic of Korea’s development experiences in the fields of science, technology and innovation. In addition, he will make suggestions on ways to step up cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region for sustainable development, including in boosting education on science and technology in developing countries; building capacity for research and development (R&D) and for starting businesses in developing countries; reinforcing private-public partnerships; and raising development fund.

° Ahead of the UN ESCAP session, Vice Minister Cho will meet with Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar of the UN ESCAP on May 17 and discuss with her ways to step up the ROK-UN ESCAP cooperation, including in supporting bids of ROK nationals to expand their presence in the body.

4. On a related note, Director-General for Multilateral Economic Affairs Kim Young-jun will attend as head delegate of the ROK government the Senior Officials Segment, which will take place from May 15 till 17 ahead of the Ministerial Segment, and where Director-General Kim will serve as the vice chair.


* unofficial translation