The United Nations NGO (non-governmental organizations) Section
launched its Asia-Pacific regional network in Beijing Friday.
The network aims at boosting cooperation between the UN and NGOs
in countries of the Asia-Pacific region, and promoting the
implementation of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the
region.
At a conference held Friday morning to mark the start-up of the
network, NGO representatives from China and other countries in the
Asia-Pacific region held discussions on generating employment,
eradicating poverty and promoting sustained economic growth for
social development.
The Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, a
Chinese NGO, was appointed by the UN NGO Section as a coordinator
of its Asia-Pacific regional network in April, 2005, responsible
for promoting the implementation of MDGs in the region.
Initiated during the UN Millennium Summit in 2000, the
Millennium Development Goals include reducing by half the
proportion of people suffering from poverty and hunger, achieving
universal primary education, eliminating gender disparity, reducing
child mortality by two thirds and maternal mortality by three
quarters, halting and reversing the incidence of major diseases,
and reducing by a half the proportion of people without sustainable
access to safe drinking water.
(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2006)
