Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2015:

Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2015:
“Strengthening integration, implementation and review
for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”
21-22 May 2015, United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
Thursday 21 May 2015
08.00–09.00
Registration
09.00–10.00
Opening
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Video address by Mr. Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
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Welcome by Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive
Secretary of ESCAP
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Keynote address by Mr. Achim Steiner, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive
Director, United Nations Environment Programme
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Keynote address by Mr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and SecretaryGeneral, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
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Opening remarks by H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Government of Thailand
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Election of the Bureau
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Statement by Civil Society
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Adoption of the agenda
10.00-10.30
Coffee break
[Photo session]
10.30–12.00
Session 1: Defining Asia-Pacific sustainable development challenges and opportunities - ‘Strengthening
integration, implementation and review for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific’
What are the challenges, opportunities and priority steps to promote integration of the three dimensions as a
basis for implementation of the sustainable development goals? What kinds of capacities are needed for an
integrated approach to implementing the sustainable development goals?
Presentations
 Remarks on the outcome of APFSD 2014 and Asia-Pacific perspectives in the global process by Ms.
Kanchana Patarachoke, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Thailand, APFSD 2014 Co-chair
 Overview of the process for establishing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 by Mr.
Thomas Gass, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department
of Economic and Social Affairs (by video conference)
High-level roundtable
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Siaosi 'Ofa ki Vahafola Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment,
Tonga
Presentation:
 Presentation of the theme study “Balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development: From
integration to implementation” by Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
and Executive Secretary of ESCAP
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Panelists:
 H.E. Tiarite George Kwong, Minister of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development, Kiribati,
Representing the First Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific
 H.E. Mr. Pan Bun Thoeurn, Secretary of State, Ministry of Planning, Cambodia
 Ms. Noelene Nabulivou, Executive Committee Member, Diverse Voices and Action for Equality and
Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era
 Mr. Aman ul Haque, Head of Engro Foundation, Engro Corporation Limited
Discussant: H.E. Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Pakistan
Country and stakeholder statements
12.00–13.30
Lunch
 Side events
13:30-15:00
Session 2: Perspectives on the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 and the sustainable
development goals
What are the positions of various stakeholders on the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 and
the sustainable development goals, and how can they be reconciled?
Presentations
• Overview of negotiations on the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 by Mr. Thomas Gass,
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (video)
• Issues of global debate for the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 by Ms. Ranja Sengupta,
Senior Researcher, Third World Network
Country and stakeholder statements
15.00-15.20
Coffee break
15.20-17.30
Session 3: Regional mechanisms for monitoring and review for implementation of the United Nations
development agenda beyond 2015
What are essential elements of an effective mechanism for monitoring and review for the implementation of
the United Nations development agenda in the context of the current proposal for the sustainable development
goals? What monitoring and review functions can be best supported at the regional level through the APFSD
process?
Multi-stakeholder panel
Moderator: Ms. Armida Alisjahbana, former Minister for National Development Planning, Indonesia and
Professor of Economics, Padjadjaran University
Presentation:
 Introduction of the background document for the session by Mr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished
Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh (by video conference)
Panelists:
 H.E. Mr. Constâncio da Conceição Pinto, Vice Minister of Commerce, Industry and the Environment, TimorLeste
 Ms. Aishath Shahuda, Chief Statistician, National Bureau of Statistics, Maldives and Chair, ESCAP
Committee on Statistics
 Mr. Mark Kelly, Senior Director of Operations, South Asia and Pacific Region, World Vision
 Mr. Pietro Bertazzi, Senior Manager, Public Affairs and International Relations, Global Reporting Initiative
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Discussant: Ms. Elenita Daño, Asia Director of the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC
Group)
Country and stakeholder statements
18.00- 19.30
Reception
Friday 22 May 2015
09.00–10.30
Session 4: The form and function of the APFSD beyond 2015
What form and functions should the APFSD adopt to best promote progress on the United Nations
development agenda beyond 2015?
Presentations
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Presentation of the secretariat’s proposals
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APFSD in the context of the global institutional framework for sustainable development by Mr. David Le
Blanc, Senior Researcher, Policy and Analysis Branch, DSD/DESA, UN, New York
Country and stakeholder statements
10.30-10.50
Coffee break
10.50-12.30
Special presentation: Asia-Pacific models of sustainable development
Country presentations showcasing models of sustainable development which are strongly based in Asia-Pacific
culture and values
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Kesang Wangdi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent
Representative to ESCAP, Royal Bhutanese Embassy
Speakers:
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H.E. Mr. Ralph John Regenvanu, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Vanuatu
H.E. Mr. David Dondua, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgia
Mom Rajawongse Disnadda Diskul, Chairman of the Board, Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal
Patronage
Mr. Tetsuya Ishii, Principal Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Discussant: Ms. Rita Dhital, Director of Poverty Alleviation Division in South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation Secretariat
12.30–14:00
14:00–15:30
Lunch
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Side events
Session 5: Regional preparatory session for the 2015 Annual Ministerial Review of the ECOSOC
'Managing the transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the sustainable development goals: What
will it take?’
Panel
Moderator: Mr. Shun-Ichi Murata, Deputy Executive Secretary, ESCAP
Panelists:
 H.E. Mr. Ralph John Regenvanu, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Vanuatu
 H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
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Ms. Anuradha Rajivan, Advisor, Strategy and Policy Department, Asian Development Bank
Mr. Nicholas Rosellini, Deputy Assistant Administrator & Deputy Regional Director, Regional Bureau for
Asia and the Pacific, UNDP
15:30-16:00
Coffee break
16.00-17.00
Session 6: Synthesis, conclusions and other matters
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Statements on other matters
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Review of the Chair’s summary
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Adoption of the report
Closing ceremony
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