RH ISTC represented the Russian Federation at the 80th Session of the Commission UN ESCAP
From April 22 to 26, 2024, the 80th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The main theme of the anniversary session was the use of digital technologies and innovations to achieve sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region (APR), as well as ways and opportunities to unlock digital potential to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation between APR countries.
Representatives from more than 50 countries participated in the session. The delegation from the Russian Federation was headed by Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia to Thailand and Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to ESCAP Evgeny Tomikhin.
The Russian House for International Scientific and Technical Cooperation (RH ISTC) was represented in the Russian delegation by Anastasia Ryabukhina, Head of the Center for International Projects and Initiatives and Coordinator for Cooperation with UN ESCAP, who participated in a series of discussions organized by the Asia-Pacific Centre for Technology Transfer (APCTT) of UN ESCAP.
On April 23, a hybrid discussion was held on the theme "Digital Platforms for Knowledge Sharing and Cooperation in Climate Technologies".
During the event, the Russian-Chinese Scientific, Technical and Innovation Platform was presented, along with prospects for its further use in developing bilateral scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and China.
The Russian-Chinese platform is an important tool for establishing dialogue between countries, enabling the transfer of advanced technologies, developing international academic mobility, and cooperation between educational and scientific organizations of Russia and China.
The presentation sparked lively discussion among participants and attendees, following which the parties agreed on the need to scale up successful practices in relation to APR countries.
Within the framework of the dialogue, an initiative to create an International Digital Platform for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region was presented. It is noted that creating a unified digital ecosystem will ensure effective use and implementation of developments and technologies in APR countries, as well as open new opportunities for attracting additional investment flows to knowledge-intensive projects.
During the presentation, the important role of using such promising financial instruments as crowdfunding was also emphasized, which provides broad access to investments, allowing diversification of traditional financing models.
On April 26, Anastasia Ryabukhina participated in agenda item 5(d). In her comment, she emphasized the importance of promoting harmonized digital cooperation for effective interaction between countries, exchange of scientific, technological and innovative developments, international personnel training and technology transfer, and noted the significant role of APCTT in this process.
Reference Information:
Following elections during the work of the 79th UN ESCAP Commission, the Russian Federation was included in the Governing Council of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Technology Transfer of UN ESCAP. The Russian House for International Scientific and Technical Cooperation represent Russia in APCTT governing bodies. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia)
The initiative to create an International Digital Platform for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region was included in the final protocol of the 19th session of the APCTT Governing Council.
About UN ESCAP and APCTT:
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was established in 1947 to address economic and social problems in the Asia-Pacific region. The main focus of ESCAP's activities is directed toward personnel training, experience exchange between regions, development of international relations, support for interregional trade and investment attraction, technology transfer, stimulation of entrepreneurship and privatization, environmental protection, urbanization, poverty reduction, drug control, population management, social development and labor migration regulation.
ESCAP is the largest of the five regional commissions of the United Nations in terms of territory covered. Currently, ESCAP comprises 53 countries, including the Russian Federation.
APCTT was established in 1977 as a subsidiary body of ESCAP to develop the scientific, technical and innovation potential of the region. The Centre implements various projects, programs and activities aimed at stimulating innovation and technology transfer, funded by both organization members and international investors.