Bangkok, 28 March 2023 - The 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD10) opened on 27 March 2023 at the United Nations (UN) Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand. The Philippines was well-represented by a 19-member-strong delegation from various government agencies led by the in-person participation of Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Assistant Secretary Francisco Cruz of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Edna May G. Lazaro.

Other members of the Philippine delegation from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), among other government agencies, also participated online.

The APFSD is an annual, inclusive intergovernmental forum to support the follow-up and review of the progress on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the regional level. The Forum is organized under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) headquartered in Bangkok.

This year’s Forum is organized under the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels in Asia and the Pacific.”

Today also commences the four-day Forum’s in-depth review of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

For more information on the APSFD10 proceedings including the live-streaming of the Philippine Government’s statements throughout the Forum, please visit the official APFSD website at https://www.unescap.org/events/apfsd10. END