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OPENING STATEMENT
 BY
MR. KIM HAK-SU
UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
AND THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Your Excellency Mr Huang Ju, Vice Premier,
Your Excellency Mme Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairperson, National People's Congress of China,
Your Excellency Mr Xu Kuangdi, Vice Chairman, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to join you today, and to address the opening of the World Industrial and Commercial Organizations Summit, in this magnificent city of Beijing.  I would like to thank the Chinese Federation of Industrial Economics and other organizations for co-hosting this august event.  "Dialogue, Coordination and Cooperation" has been rightly chosen as the theme for the Summit.

Following the rapid development of ICT and other technologies, Asia and the Pacific is quickly transforming itself from an agricultural to an industrial economy, with pioneer countries now advancing towards a knowledge-driven information society. This has made our region a major platform of commercial transactions, a key player of industrial innovation, and an engine of the world economic growth in the past decade. As home to 60 per cent of the world population, it has shown tremendous potential for leading the world economic development for many years.

On the other hand, we have to recognize the fact that the Asian and Pacific region houses the largest poor population in the world.  Many of the technological and industrial advancements are not accessible to a large number of people in our region, especially in the least developed countries, land-locked and small island developing countries, and countries with economy in transition.  Many social issues have also emerged, such as the spread of HIV/AIDS, unemployment and lack of access to social services and housing, among others.

Against this background, I believe this Summit is very timely, and its outcome will have wide-rangeing impact. It will provide a good opportunity for us to examine the prominent issues related to industrial and commercial development, and to promote exchange under a globalized industrial and trade system. The issues that this Summit is focusing its attention include poverty reduction, managing globalization and tackling emerging social issues – which are also the focus of our work at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Many of you are aware that UNESCAP was founded in Shanghai in 1947 and moved to Bangkok in 1949.  It currently has 62 members and associate members.  As the largest regional inter-governmental organization and the regional arm of the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific, UNESCAP has given due importance to technological and industrial development and trade facilitation.

UNESCAP will work closely with all of you in finding solutions to the issues confronting us.  It is my belief that the Chinese Federation of Industrial Economics can play an important role in this process, and organize more activities for the national development of China as well as the development of the region as a whole.

UNESCAP looks forward to working closely with all industrial and commercial key players in further strengthening our partnership.

I wish this WICO Summit every success. Thank you.