Asia

Annan hails establishment of office for Central Asia alliance

15 January 2004
United Nations Secretary-General today hailed the establishment of a permanent secretariat for a regional alliance in Central Asia, where he said pressing international challenges require a cohesive response.

Asian highway network to spread across continent after landmark deal - UN

21 November 2003
The Asian Highway network will be extended across 32 countries over the whole of the continent after delegates to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) reached a landmark agreement this week.

Cargo train makes first rail trip between China and Mongolia - UN commission

7 November 2003
The railways of China and Mongolia will start cargo train service tomorrow between Tianjin port, east of Beijing, and Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, as part of a project to connect Asia and Europe by rail, the United Nations regional commission for Asia and the Pacific said today.

UNESCO publishes history volume on Central Asia

16 October 2003
The latest volume on the histories of the empires that rose and fell in the vast Central Asian region will be launched today in Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said.

Arab ministers to gather in Lebanon for UN-backed meeting on trade

23 July 2003
The United Nations-backed Arab ministerial meeting is set to kick-off tomorrow in Beirut to clarify the position of regional countries on various trade issues in order for them to speak with a concerted voice during the World Trade Organization (WTO) conference to be held later in the year.

UN Children’s Fund reports ‘child survival crisis’ in Caucasus, Central Asia

22 July 2003
Reporting a “child survival crisis” in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today infant mortality rates in nine countries were up to four times higher than official figures long claimed, and 12 times those of western industrialized countries, with most deaths being preventable.

UN anti-drug agency launches projects to stem heroin flow from Central Asia

20 June 2003
With Central Asia turning into a hotspot for international heroin trafficking following the return of massive opium cultivation in Afghanistan, the United Nations anti-drug agency launched five new major projects totalling more than $17 million this week in a bid to cut off the narcotics flow from the region into Europe.

Despite striking successes Asia-Pacific region faces huge social challenges – UN

4 June 2003
While the Asia-Pacific region has achieved “one of the largest decreases in mass poverty in human history,” huge challenges still exist in basic education, gender equality, child health, maternal mortality and environmental sustainability, according to a United Nations report released today in Bangkok.

UN concerned economic growth in Asia-Pacific may stress environment

19 May 2003
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today said Asia and the Pacific now has more “middle to high income” consumers – those earning more than $7,000 per year – than Western Europe and North America combined, raising concerns that aspirations for further growth may come at a high environmental price.

Timor-Leste admitted to UN economic and social commission for Asia-Pacific

25 April 2003
Timor-Leste was admitted today to the regional arm of the United Nations responsible for promoting economic and social development through cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific.