Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni met today with the ambassadors accredited in Rome of the Asian member countries of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), one of five regional economic commissions that answer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The meeting, which is an annual event for the 14 ESCAP members, offered an opportunity for an exchange of views on regional and international concerns.
Commenting on Italy’s foreign policy priorities and the initiatives promoted during our EU Presidency, particularly with regard to the ASEM summit, Minister Gentiloni stressed that “the ESCAP region is a highly important partner for our country both at economic and trade levels as well as politically”.
In the current phase of economic recovery and renewed growth and employment, Gentiloni added, “Italy has a special interest in strengthening relations with ESCAP countries, which account for one-third of world GDP and almost half of international trade”. “Meetings such as today’s are a very important opportunity to strengthen dialogue and collaboration in areas of mutual interest”, he concluded.
