The theme of the forum this year is "Infrastructure for Sustainable Development: Creating Liveable Communities", which is also the common aspiration of the governments of the member countries and regions. The Ministers' Joint Declaration covers four areas: "Urbanisation and Rising Urban Density", "Planning and Management of Infrastructure", "Climate Change and Resource Sustainability" and "Building Homes and Communities". The delegates agreed that these are issues that member countries and regions are concerned with, and in which they will strengthen the sharing of views and experiences as well as co-operation. They also concurred that these four issues must be considered when planning and undertaking infrastructure projects so as to sustain economic, social and environmental progress and provide a safe, stable and comfortable living environment.
In addition, the representatives agreed to continue to hold such meetings to advance their shared understanding and advocate strategies for sustainable urbanisation.
Initiated by Japan in 1995, the forum aims to provide ministers and senior officials of 20 member countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region with an international platform to discuss strategies and policies on infrastructure development, share views and experiences and foster mutual support in dealing with potential problems arising from infrastructure development. Hong Kong hosted the third and ninth forums in 1999 and 2011 respectively.
Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (June 2).
Ends/Sunday, June 1, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:24
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