7 December 2011: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review Regional Preparatory meeting for Asia and the Pacific has heard calls for greater regional cooperation in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The meeting convened in Kyoto, Japan, on 7 December 2011.

Abulkalam Abdul Momen, ECOSOC Vice-President, called for the creation of “an effective regional network” upon which knowledge and skill can be built on and shared. He said this would enable countries at differing stages of development to learn from each other through the exchange of share best practices and lessons learned. Momen also drew attention to Asian “tigers,” which continue to attract investment and enjoy rising productivity. He added that, in contrast, Pacific island countries face difficulties due to climate change.

The meeting was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the Japanese Government. [UN Press Release]