ESCAP and the General Agency of Specialized Inspection (GASI) are organizing an Expert Group Meeting to Streamline Inspection and Quarantine Processes of Mongolia through Subregional Knowledge-sharing in North-East Asia on 4 to 5 July in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. The Meeting will analyze the current status of GASI and identify opportunities for improvement in the areas of quarantine and inspection processes and procedures. Officials from North-East Asian quarantine and inspection agencies will share knowledge on a broad range of topics: designing and implementing risk management based inspections; improving transparency and predictability of quarantine and inspection services; and the legal and regulatory framework. The meeting is expected to enhance cross-border cooperation and identify areas for follow-up collaboration and technical assistance.

The ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia together with the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China will organize the Asian Symposium on Building Sustainable Ageing Societies on 5 to 6 July in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. Against the background of the regional and global review and appraisal of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, government officials, academic experts and representatives from civil society will gather to discuss government strategies, share good practices, and promote mutual learning on the changing needs of ageing communities and create policies to leverage their unique and valuable contributions.

The North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), and the Scientific Research Institute (SRI) “Atmosphere” of the Russian Federation are organizing the Expert Consultation Meeting on Transboundary Air Pollution in North-East Asia from 9 to 10 July in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. The expert meeting is being held in response to the transboundary air pollution problems in North-East Asia. The expert meeting will review existing subregional and regional mechanisms, identify existing gaps, and formulate options for improvement of multilateral cooperation on transboundary air pollution in North-East Asia.

ESCAP and the World Trade Organization (WTO), in cooperation with the International Islamic University Malaysia will organize a Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property and Public Health and Environment Policy for Asia and Pacific Economies from 10 to 12 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Workshop aims to provide updated information and an opportunity for an exchange of views among countries of the region in order to facilitate their effective participation in the discussions related policy issues which are under active consideration in several international forums, including the WTO, WHO, and WIPO. The Workshop will address a number of important public policy issues in the field of intellectual property rights relevant to the work in the WTO and other forums, including linkages between intellectual property regimes and public health, environment and other areas. The workshop will be attended by government officials from 20 developing countries from Asia and the Pacific.

A Regional Workshop to Strengthen National Capacity to Address Gender Concerns in Meeting the MDGs is scheduled to take place from 16 to 19 July in Kunming, China. The workshop, which is being organized by ESCAP in partnership with the All-China Women’s Federation, based on a South-South cooperation approach, aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and practical skills to mainstream gender into economic and social policies and plans at the national and local levels towards the achievement of the MDGs. Particular attention will be given to women’s economic empowerment and the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices.

The Steering Group for Agricultural Statistics (SGAS) is scheduled to meet on 18 to 20 July at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok. The Meeting is being jointly organized by ESCAP and FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The Meeting will review and provide recommendations to finalize the draft Asia-Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics; with a view to facilitating its consideration by the Asia-Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (APCAS), and the ESCAP Committee on Statistics. The SGAS is consisted of representatives from National Statistical Offices, Ministries of Agriculture, and National Agricultural Policy and Research Institutes of 16 ESCAP countries, as well as 6 international, regional, and subregional organizations.