Minister for Trade Kim Jong-hoon was elected as a chairperson of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific(UN ESCAP) at the 64th Commission’s Annual Session in Bangkok, Thailand from April 24 to 30.

For a South Korean to hold the office of a chairperson is the second time since the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Sang-ok was appointed to the seat in 1991 at the 47th ESCAP conference held in Seoul.

The 64th Commission’s annual session was held under the theme of ‘energy security and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific’ with ministers and other senior officials from the 62 member states of the UN ESCAP and representatives of other international organizations.

Mr. Kim presided over the plenary meetings throughout the session and attended the high-level roundtable as a panel to discuss how to promote energy security, in particular energy trade in the ESCAP region with leading leaders from governments, business and civil societies. He also asked member states to further participation on the Trans Asia Energy System.

The Korean government is to continue to endeavor to strengthen its footing in the international community and realize international agendas through cooperation with ESCAP.