On 15-16 May 2023, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming attended the opening ceremony of the 79th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) held in Bangkok, Thailand, and a side event titled Accelerating Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific for Sustainable Development.
Zhang Ming pointed out in his address that the SCO set a high value on joint efforts against climate change and its negative consequences and had created a solid legal framework and an effective cooperation mechanism in this area. The SCO member states believe that the implementation of the Paris Agreement should be based on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” depending on the countries’ different national circumstances. The SCO member states urge industrialised countries to honour their obligations on time and to provide the necessary assistance, such as funding, technology creation and transfer, and the build-up of capacities. It is essential to enhance the developing countries’ climate change response capability in the context of sustainable development. At the same time, the SCO will aim for developing dialogue with the relevant international organisations to attract investment and finance environmental protection and technology projects and to increase the share of the green economy.
During the session, Zhang Ming met with ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana. They exchanged views on the practical measures taken by their organisations within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the SCO and ESCAP secretariats in 2022 and discussed priority cooperation areas.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the ESCAP Secretariat was signed on 15 September 2022.