Excellency, Mr. Kairat Sarybay, Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA),
Excellency, Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand,
Excellency, Mr. Arman Issetov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to ESCAP,
Distinguished participants, colleagues, friends, ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to welcome you to this important dialogue, co-hosted by the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and ESCAP.
Our gathering here in the vibrant city of Bangkok marks a significant stride towards fostering sustainable digital transformation across Asia and the Pacific.
The region is remarkably diverse, spanning vast geographical areas and encompassing a variety of developmental stages and digital landscapes.
This diversity presents us with unique opportunities for regional connectivity and advancing cooperative mechanisms across all subregions and among 28 CICA member States.
I am pleased to inform you that the adoption last year by the Commission of a resolution on promoting digital cooperation and inclusion through implementation of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Initiative provides a regional blueprint for digital inclusion, setting the stage for a more inter-connected and cooperative future.
Today, I would like to highlight three ESCAP partnership initiatives that are pivotal in enhancing economic cooperation and technological empowerment in our region:
Firstly, the upcoming Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation, hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan, is set to convene in Astana from 3 to 5 September.
We expect that Ministers will agree on a visionary declaration that will impart momentum to our digital cooperation and transformation efforts, providing a platform for high-level discussions and strategic collaborations among multiple stakeholders.
Secondly, ESCAP, in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), continues to support the Green Development of member States in North and Central Asia under the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) while addressing the pressing challenges of global climate change.
Lastly, we anticipate the adoption of a pivotal resolution at this session reflecting our collective dedication to accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through digital innovations and affirming the role of Asia and the Pacific as a burgeoning hub of digital innovation.
I look forward to a fruitful exchange of ideas and a stronger regional partnership in the digital era.
Thank you very much.
