1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 31st Korea-United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) annual consultation in a virtual format on December 16, 2020. The Korean and UNESCAP delegations were led by Director-General for International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Park Taeyoung and Director of the Strategy and Programme Management Division Adnan Aliani, respectively.

o Since Korea created the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund in 1987 to support the implementation of cooperation activities in the Asia-Pacific based on UNESCAP’s activities and priorities, the Korean government has implemented various cooperation projects with UNESCAP for the development of the Asia-Pacific region.

2. In the annual consultation, the two sides reviewed the progress in ongoing projects under the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund; explored and discussed new projects; and exchanged views on ways to expand Korean nationals’ presence in the UNESCAP Secretariat.

o The Korean side stressed the need to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of projects, such as expanding the connectivity of regional transportation and trade infrastructure and accumulating data of vulnerable groups, by fully utilizing lessons learned from the implementation of projects in the past.

o The UNESCAP side expressed appreciation for the Korean government’s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific and UNESCAP, and suggested that the Korean government and UNESCAP continue to work together to further increase connectivity among various cooperation projects between the two sides.

3. UNESCAP, the only intergovernmental organization encompassing the entire Asia-Pacific region, is playing a central role in development and cooperation in the economic and social sectors of the region, and Korea is the largest donor to UNESCAP. The 31st annual consultation served as a good opportunity for the two sides to review the progress in implementing bilateral projects and explore the way forward for future cooperation projects so that regional cooperation is not dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

o The Korean government will continue to expand cooperation with UNESCAP to promote sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific and enhance regional connectivity.