The Second Ministerial Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific (RECI) commenced in the UNESCAP Secretariat in Bangkok.

Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission of Nepal, and the leader of the Nepali delegation, has been elected Chairman of the Conference.

The Conference is co-hosted by UNESCAP and Asian Development Bank. The Conference has two segments: Senior Officials' Segment and Ministerial Segment. The Senior Officials' Segment was held on 21 and 22 November 2017. The Ministerial Segment will be held on 23 and 24 November.

According to a press release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministers and high-level Government officials as well as representatives from private sector and academia are participating in the Conference.

The Nepalese delegation to the Ministerial Conference comprises Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Bishnu Prasad Lamsal, Secretary, National Planning Commission Secretariat, and Dr. Khaga Nath Adhikari, Ambassador and Nepal's Permanent Representative to UNESCAP.

Secretary Bishnu Prasad Lamsal led the Nepali delegation to the Senior Officials' Meeting on 21 and 22 November.

The First Ministerial Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific was held in Bangkok in December 2013. The First Conference called for enhanced efforts for regional economic cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific, with focus in four areas: (a) moving towards the formation of an integrated market; (b) the development of seamless connectivity across the region in the areas of transport, energy and information and communications technology; (c) enhancing financial cooperation; and (d) increasing economic and technical cooperation to address shared vulnerabilities and risks.

The Second Ministerial Conference is expected to discuss ways and means to further promote economic cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific, and will also provide an opportunity to discuss how RECI can most effectively support and contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.