UNITED NATIONS  NATIONS UNIES

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR AISA AND THE PACIFIC

United Nations Building,Rajadamnern Nok Avenue,Bangkok 10200,Thailand

Tel:(+66 2)2881940·Fax:(+66 2)2881051

Email:oes.unescap@un.org·www.unescap.org

Excellency,

Center for International Knowledge on Development

Allow me to express my warmest congratulation on the official launch of the Center for Knowledge on Development. It demonstrates the government of China’s commitment to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I believe this Center could play a significant role in promoting international cooperation on sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

When we met in March this year at the China Development Forum in Beijing, I briefed you how the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP) is working as a regional arm of the United Nations to promote the cooperation needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals in our region. ESCAP has developed a Region road map for implementing this agenda and has organized the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) annually since 2014. I believe there is potential for ESCAP and the newly established Center for International Knowledge on Development to work together to enhance regional cooperation on sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific. I hope we can work together to make this happen.

I take this opportunity to sincerely wish the Center for International Knowledge on Development every success.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Shamshad Akhtar

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

H.E Mr.Li Wei

Minister/President

Development Research Center of the State Council

People’s Republic of China