..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 28 March 2007
Press Release No. G/09/2007

UNESCAP Marked 60th Anniversary with Pride and Commitment

Gala event featured song, dance and keynote address by Thai princess

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific marked 60 years of service to the region today with a commemoration at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent a video message and special guests included Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. The event also featured a dance performance and singing by heads of UN agencies in Bangkok.

“Throughout these six decades, UNESCAP has worked closely with the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region in their endeavor to build freedom from fear and freedom from want,” said Mr. Ban. “Today, this region of four billion people is a powerhouse for global economic growth,”

UNESCAP has chosen “Building an Asia-Pacific Century” as the theme of the 60th anniversary celebrations. “It is our privilege to serve the people of the region, and to be associated with their success,” said UNESCAP Executive Secretary, Kim Hak-Su. “On this historic occasion, we rededicate ourselves to building an ‘Asia-Pacific Century.”

The celebrations kicked off with a colorful parade of the flags of 62 member states/regions of UNESCAP, each carried by a staff members dressed in national costume.

The keynote address was delivered by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. “Since its inception, ESCAP has been assisting member states by fostering regional cooperation and providing technical assistance in economic and social development,” she said. “People are the real wealth of nations. The aim of development is to expand choices so people can live their lives in dignity.”

In his statement, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thailand was proud to have been the host of UNESCAP for much of the past six decades. He noted that many UN entities had followed UNESCAP and had chosen Thailand as their regional headquarters. Prime Minister Surayud said Thailand would continue its support of the UN system and its work in the region.

As part of the celebrations, Nobel laureate in economics, Amartya Sen, received UNESCAP’s first ever Award for Lifetime Achievement. Professor Sen gave a special lecture to UN staff members before the ceremony, on the topic of “Asian Immensities” (For details, please see separate press release.)

There was a special dance performance at the commemoration which portrayed changes in Asia-Pacific region over the past six decades. A chamber orchestra, made up of university students and sponsored by the UN Association of Thailand, performed western classical and Thai music. The event concluded with singing by all heads of UN agencies based in Bangkok and ESCAP staff members of a song written by a staff member, “Unity in Diversity”, to the tune of the well-known “We are the world”. A group painting by the heads of agencies, also entitled “Unity in Diversity”, was unveiled.

UNESCAP was founded as the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) on 28th March 1947. ECAFE moved its headquarters from Shanghai to Bangkok in 1949.