Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

The inaugural session of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) was held from 19 to 21 May 2014. Discussions aligned with the theme of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development (currently proposed as “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals and charting the way for an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals”). The Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development charted the blueprint of a long-term inter-governmental regional consultation process supported by UN system coordination and collaboration, constructive and inclusive engagement of stakeholders, credible assessments of progress, and an effective science-policy interface. This inaugural session was organized by ESCAP and co-hosted by the Royal Thai Government at the Royal Cliff Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand.

Taking stock of the global discussions at this critical time when the HLPF and its associated processes are in a transitional phase and the United Nations Development Agenda beyond 2015 is being formulated, the APFSD focused on:

• Developing strong regional inputs to inform global dialogue and decision-making, as well as national responses
• Identifying effective and inclusive means of implementation for a transformational development agenda
• Defining the regional HLPF processes to 2015 and beyond

Preparatory Process

Ahead of the first APFSD, ESCAP held a civil society forum in collaboration with civil society partners to enable civil society organizations from different sectors and countries to come together and explore common ground and actions, develop common messages for the APFSD on issues including means of implementation for just and transformative development agenda, and coordinate strategies for more effective participation in the post-2015 process.

Outcome Document

Other Documents

Presentations

Fostering Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific by Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar

Statements

Please note that all statements are in English unless otherwise specified.

Member States

• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China (Chinese only)
• Fiji
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Japan [Session 1][Session 2]
• Krygyzstan (Russian only)
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Republic of Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand

Intergovernmental Groups

• United Nations Secretariat
  • Remarks by Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of ESCAP
    Rule of Law in the Post-2015 Agenda: A Regional Perspective from the Asia-Pacific Region
  • Opening Statement by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of ESCAP
    Sustainable Development: An Unmatched Opportunity to Change Lives, Livelihoods, and Lifestyles in Asia and the Pacific [Video]
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• International Organization for Migration
• Mekong River Commission
• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Other

• Asian Forum of Parliaments on Population and Development & Other Stakeholders
• Civil Society Representative
• ESCAP Business Advisory Council
• Local Authorities Major Group
• Major Group for Children and Youth
• Major Group for Farmers
• Major Group for Indigenous Peoples
• Major Group for Women
• Major Group on Workers and Trade Unions
• NGO Major Group
• Science and Technology Community Major Group
• Statement from Other Stakeholders