8 July 2011: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held a dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the UN Regional Commissions on regional cooperation as a catalyst for development. Lazarous Kapambwe, President, ECOSOC, said such dialogue is critical for the exchange of knowledge and best practices between regions.

Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, praised the participation of the Regional Commissions in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio +20) preparatory process. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said exploiting the potential of regional economic and financial cooperation is important to rebalancing Asia-Pacific economies. Abdoulie Janneh, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), noted that regional cooperation has helped improve and increase participation in global economic processes.

Alicia Barcena, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), highlighted vulnerability to climate change and the role of South-South cooperation, intra-regional cooperation and inter-regional cooperation in achieving development goals. All speakers noted the need for Regional Commissions to have the resources to execute their work. [UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) News]