Delegates from governments, civil society, private sector and academia in the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Bangkok today for a United Nations-convened forum to discuss ways of ensuring that urban economic prosperity is socially equitable and ecologically sustainable.

High food prices prevented more than 19 million people in the Asia-Pacific region from lifting themselves out of poverty last year, the United Nations said in a new study released today, warning that soaring food and fuel inflation will keep large sections of the region’s population below the poverty threshold.

Led by China and India, the Asia-Pacific region made a significant economic recovery this year, following recession in previous years, but weakening economies in developed countries could pose new challenges for the region in 2011, according to a report from the UN’s commission for the region.

Government officials and policymakers from Asia and the Pacific have concluded a United Nations-organized meeting by adopting a course of action for environmentally sustainable economic growth, ahead of a key ministerial conference to be held in September in Kazakhstan.