Ulaanbaatar, April 23, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opened its 80th Session in Bangkok on April 22, 2024, under the theme "Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific."

At the 80th ESCAP session, Foreign Minister of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh assumed the Chair role from Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tonga who chaired the 79th Session.

In her opening remarks, Foreign Minister of Mongolia and Chair of the 80th Session of the Commission Battsetseg noted that at this critical juncture where we face tremendous technology and climate change, we must harness the power of e-innovation to address the pressing challenges and build a more sustainable future. The Foreign Minister underscored that regional digital innovation enables sustainable development in energy, transportation, agriculture, health, and many other fields. 

“We must be mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. Issues such as the digital divide, data privacy, and cybersecurity must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of technology are accessible to all and that our digital infrastructure is resilient and secure. This is why the deliberations of the 80th Session of the Commission are so critical for the region,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh.

Additionally, the Chair of the 80th Session also called on the ESCAP to strengthen the link between e-innovation and sustainable development and to support strategic cooperation to share best practices and technologies to ensure a genuine e-transition as the Commission's 80th Session addresses regionally critical topics.