Regional UN forum calls for urgent actions to tackle growing challenges in Asian, Pacific cities

BANGKOK, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Government leaders, city planners and development experts have gathered in Bangkok, calling for stronger regional cooperation to shape resilient and sustainable urban futures.

The call came from the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is held in Bangkok from April 21 to 25.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said that while cities have long been drivers of economic growth, the region's rapid urbanization is intensifying social and environmental pressures.

She underscored the urgency of rethinking how cities grow and function, transforming cities into hubs of innovation, resilience and equity.

In her speech, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said solving global challenges that cut across boundaries and regions requires strengthening of cooperation at all levels and good leadership, leading to inclusive and sustainable development.

Multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, ESCAP, ASEAN, as well as multilateral agreements, are more crucial than ever in the collective pursuit of these goals, she said.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Ma elaborated on China's position on U.S. arbitrary tariffs, stating that the recent imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariffs by the U.S. government on many countries is typically economic bullying featuring unilateralism and protectionism, and all Asia-Pacific countries are victims.

Ma said that China has taken resolute countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and to uphold international fairness and justice as well as the international economic order. In the face of bullying and hegemony, there is no way out through compromise and concession; only unity and cooperation can bring a future.

Ma said that the ESCAP should firmly defend multilateralism, deepen openness and cooperation, cultivate new driving forces for innovative development, promote inclusive and sustainable development, and promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

Ma said that China is willing to strengthen a synergy between the high-quality joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the ESCAP, injecting greater impetus into connectivity and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ESCAP is an important intergovernmental comprehensive economic and social development organization established by the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Enditem