Kathmandu,18 Dec 2014: The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Asia and the Pacific have voiced a strong determination to graduate from their LDC status by 2022 AD.
High-ranking government officials from LDCs in the region expressed commitments to taking meaningful steps towards the path of socio-economic development at the conclusion of a three-day Ministerial Meeting on the Asia-Pacific Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on Graduation and Post-2015 Development Agenda jointly organised by the Nepal Government and UN-OHRLLS.
The 24-point Kathmandu Declaration for Sustainable Graduation of Asia-Pacific LDCs was adopted at the close of the meeting which emphasized that graduation from the LDC category should not be seen as the end goal, rather as a means to realise fundamental structural transformation, and build resilient economics which will help achieve to the sustainable development goals.
Participants at the event discussed the national graduation strategy of LDCs in Asia and the Pacific and considered practical steps that can be taken towards smooth graduation from the category.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the meeting, its Chair and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey said all the 48 LDCs in the world will implement the agenda of development set by the meeting in letter to the extent.
Reiterating the commitments for meaningful cooperation with the development partners for attaining an inclusive economic development based on equality, Minister Pandey underlined the need of unity among the LDCs to meet the development goals. He said he hoped that international development partners will increase their assistance to the LDCs and allocate the promised assistance on time.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNOHRLLS high representative Gyan Chandra Acharya suggested the developed countries for increasing amount of formal development assistance being provided to poor countries and for the mobilisation of international resources.
Acting Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shankar Das Bairagi the graduation of LDCs in Asia and the Pacific would be easier if they get international support and assistance to that through an integrated and coordinated way. The Meeting was successful in sharing the mutual experiences of development, he said.
Over 150 participants including the members of ministerial delegations from 11 countries (out of 13) in Asia-Pacific region, development partners of LDCs, representatives from international organisations and UN senior officials were present in the meeting.
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