Summary
On its third and final day, the 5th APFSD hosted the "Engagement Space", which featured events organized to encourage lively discussions and peer-to-peer learning opportunities on the SDGs. One event launched the Partnership for Online Platforms & Sustainable Development, a project of the Asia Foundation with the support of ESCAP.
On the sidelines of the Forum, a high-level dialogue was convened to enhance synergies in implementing the SDGs and promoting resilience in the Asia-Pacific region. The dialogue launched the report “Complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: A Framework Action.” Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary, ESCAP, stressed that the report focuses on five key priorities that remain challenging for the region: poverty eradication, infrastructure and connectivity, sustainable management of natural resources, sustainable consumption and production, and resilience.
Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, highlighted three proposals through which the Thai Government aims to strengthen resilience in the ASEAN countries:
- creating an ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue;
- developing a Complementarities Roadmap for 2018-2019; and
- cooperating with the private sector to promote sustainable consumption and production.
Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, ASEAN Secretariat, praised the dialogue as an opportunity to exchange views among key players and to serve as a platform to energize regional cooperation and resilience in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the afternoon, the 5th APFSD adopted the Chair’s summary report of the Forum, which is the main Asia-Pacific input to the upcoming High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to be held in New York in July 2018.
In closing remarks, Shamshad Akhtar reaffirmed the Forum as a vital space for fostering resilience and multi-level partnerships, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the Asia-Pacific region.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, hass provided daily digital coverage and a summary report from the 5th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development - Transformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Societies. The summary report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by ESCAP
A lively discussion on the sidelines of the APFSD 2018.
John Karr, Asia Foundation, speaks at the launch of the Partnership for Online Platforms & Sustainable Development.
Katinka Weinberger, ESCAP Secretariat, reflects on SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation).