The 60th Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific convened from 22-28 April 2004 in Shanghai, China, concluding with the adoption of the Shanghai Declaration, which reaffirmed the central role of the UN in promoting international cooperation for development and called for the highest priority to be given to reducing poverty in the region.

Resolutions were also adopted on: a regional call for action to enhance capacity building in public health; implementing ESCAP Technical Projects; the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network; the Centre for Alleviating Poverty through secondary Crops Development; and the revitalization of the UNESCAP Pacific Operation Centre and Pacific Urban Agenda.
During the senior officials segment of the ESCAP session, which took place from 22-23 April, delegates discussed issues relating to: managing globalization; poverty reduction; emerging social issues; least developed, landlocked and island developing countries; and programme planning and evaluation, including ESCAP’s strategic framework for 2006-2007. The ministerial segment, which was held from 26-28 April, comprised a high-level visionary meeting for the region, and heard statements by countries on policy issues for the ESCAP region, including on implications of recent economic and social developments, and on meeting the challenges of globalization and strengthening regional development cooperation.
At the session, 25 countries signed the Asian Highway Network Agreement, a multi-pronged 140,000-kilometre-long network of standardized roadways connecting 32 countries and linking Europe to Asia. Several new initiatives were launched including the inaugural session of the Asia Business Forum and the ESCAP Business Advisory Group to discuss emerging trade and investment opportunities and engage the private sector at the institutional level.
Prior to the ESCAP session, the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries met for its eighth session from 20-21 April 2004 to discuss key policy issues that Pacific island Governments need to consider in their pursuit of sustainable urban management and the support that will be required. The Special Body also reviewed the status of the Commission’s activities in Pacific island countries in 2003. More information is available at: http://unescap.org/60/index.asp