MEDIA ALERT

EMINENT ASIAN LEADERS MEET TO EXPLORE
NEW AGENDA FOR ASIA

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)---The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Tokyo, and the Asia Strategy Forum (ASF) are jointly organizing a regional workshop on “The Emerging Economic Map of Asia: Regional Production Restructuring, Asian Integration and Sustainable Development” from 1 to 2 August 2001 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok.

The Workshop, the first of its kind, will explore an “Agenda for Asia for the 21st Century”. The aftermath of the Asian economic and financial crisis, diversities and differences in development among and within countries in the region will provide the background for the discussion.
 
The Workshop will be led by a panel of “Asian Wise Persons”. They will meet senior ministers and high-level private sector representatives to examine key themes and issues relating to the relationship between globalization, regional economic integration and cross-border production networks, and their implications for sustainable development in Asia.

The “Asian Wise Persons’ Group” will include: Dr. Cesar Virata, former Prime Minister of the Philippines; Dr. Supachai Panichapakdi, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Director-General designate, WTO; Mr. Mitsuo Sato, former President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Dr. Cho Soon, former Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Korea and Dr. Snoh Unakul, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.

The Workshop will focus on the emerging patterns of international production networks in leading industries and their implication for regional economic cooperation, as these are now playing a key role in shaping regional economic restructuring, cooperation and development, with particular relevance for Asia’s future.

NOTE TO EDITORS

You or your representative are cordially invited to attend a press conference on Thursday, 2 August 2001 at 12:30 hours in the Theatre, ground floor of UNCC followed by a luncheon to give an opportunity to journalists to meet with the “Asian Wise Persons’ Group”.

For further information, please contact:
United Nations Information Services/ESCAP
Tel: (66-2) 288-1234; Fax: (66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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