Imrul Hossain for DOT
[2] Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Thailand Nazmul Quaunine has been made president of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) during the 76th session of the commission held yesterday, reports Sarabangla.
[3] Thailand has been made the Vice President of the commission. [4] Deliberations this year focused on the theme ‘Promoting economic, social and environmental cooperation on oceans for sustainable development.’Towards this end, countries endorsed a resolution to conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources in the region. The resolution calls for countries to strengthen regional cooperation and redouble efforts to reduce marine pollution, improve ocean data and statistics, and support sustainable maritime connectivity.
Countries also agreed to boost public-private and civil society partnerships in the sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism to increase economic benefits for small island developing States and least developed countries.
[5] The Commission also encouraged small island developing States to take full advantage of their blue economy, especially in the fisheries and tourism sectors, to foster their sustainable development.
[6] For the first time in history, the annual United Nations regional assembly was held on a fully virtual platform. The online session drew active participation from over 264 delegates representing 54 of the Commission’s 62 member States and associate members along with 8 additional observer countries.