OPENING REMARKS AT THE OPENING OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC LLDC POLICY DIALOGUE

OPENING REMARKS BY H.E. MR. G. ZANDANSHATAR, MP, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, MONGOLIA AT THE OPENING OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES POLICY DIALOGUE

Madame Executive Secretary,
Honorable Prime Minister,
Honorable Vice-Speaker,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to Mongolia and to this important meeting organized at the initiative of Dr. Noeleen Heyzer and the Government of Mongolia.

The High-level Asia-Pacific Policy Dialogue on the implementation of the Almaty Program of Action and other Development Gaps faced by the landlocked developing countries is the first such dialogue among the regional landlocked developing countries. As such it lays down an excellent start for consolidation of our joint efforts to advance our interests through Asia and the Pacific.

I wish to commend the Honorable Executive Secretary for her valuable support rendered to the countries with special needs that include our landlocked developing countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The policy dialogue is set to assess the current implementation of the Almaty Program of Action (APA) within the context of the overall MDG progress.

The Asia-Pacific region has made considerable achievements in both the MDGs and the APA.

However, we are still facing numerous difficulties and setbacks. Some of our achievements since 2003 were wiped out by the global financial and economic crisis of 2008-2009. The preceding food crisis seems to have re-emerged these days.

Nevertheless, we are resolute in our aspirations to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The potential of connectivity in trade and transport has to be fully explored. Development of efficient infrastructure networks is vital in delivering export goods from the landlocked developing countries to the world market.In this respect, the pro-active cooperation and partnership of the transit countries and other donors will continue to play the leading role.

Our meeting these days will give us valuable insight, vision and recommendations that would guide our countries in the coming years. This exchange of views and presentation of country perspectives will also provide important knowledge and prospects, so that with the assistance of ESCAP could draw a clear road map leading us to the next level of cooperation, coordination and consolidation as a group.

I want finally to wish the meeting a success and the Executive Secretary a fruitful visit to Mongolia.