ASIA-PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARIANS AND INTERNATIONAL POPULATION EXPERTS CONVENE IN ULAANBAATAR

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Today, forum of Asia-Pacific parliamentarians and international population experts themed ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Parliamentarians for the Achievement of SDGs’: Ageing, birth and youth empowerment’ is taking place at the State House. Over 30 guests and representatives gathered here from 13 countries such as Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. During the forum, following targets of the Sustainable Development Goals will be discussed including Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities and Goal 17 on Partnerships for the Goals. Opening the forum, Parliament Speaker M.Enkhbold expressed his hope that participants will touch many important issues and define solutions. “Right after the UN approved the world SDG, the Mongolian government approved Mongolia Sustainable Development Vision 2030 in February 2016. The main principles of the Mongolia Sustainable Development Vision 2030 are to create healthy living environment, decent job and permanent source of income for the Mongolians, to have inclusive system of health service, education and social protection, and to ensure wealthy life. ‘Mongolia aspires to be amongst leading middle-income countries with its per capita income by 2030. We are also aim to develop a multi-sector stable economy, and a society dominated by middle and upper-middle income classes. Mongolia should implement these goals in cooperation with other regional countries. So, we are attaching significance to this forum’ emphasized Speaker M.Enkhbold. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Mongolia Country Representative Naomi Kitahara said during the forum, participants are discussing solutions for aging society with declining birth rate and ways to empower youths. It is obvious that each country is making decision in compliance with their own characteristics. Mongolia is actively working in this direction that it can share its experience with other countries. In particular, Mongolia is one of a few countries that could keep its high birth rate. Moreover, the Mongolian government adopted Law on Youth Development with an aim to build capacity of youths. Based on this law, Mongolia have taken big steps such as opening opportunity and condition for making investment to youths, which can be a good example for other countries. Member of the House of Representatives of Japan Karen Makishima noted that the fact that Japan’s aging population is priority matter for Japan. In relation, Japan focuses on supporting elders through its humanitarian and other supports. Before, only government organizations were paying attention to this matter, but now private, non-government and youth organizations are engaged in this matter mostly. She also highlighted that the Japanese government is working on creating conditions for youth to work and live in rural areas. We consider that it is the way to ensure the Sustainable Development Goals in Japan. Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqoob said that ageing, birth and youth empowerment are also priority issues for our country. So, it is crucial to strengthen the capacity of decision makers to solve these issues. Compared to other countries, Pakistan formed a unit to implement SDGs earlier. The working group is paying close attention to ensuring woman participation at decision-making level. At the end of the forum, ‘Ulaanbaatar Declaration’ will be adopted by participants. The draft declaration included issues such as investment for youth, women and elders; recommendations for the government of countries to implement gender sensitive policy, youth empowerment and cooperation between private and civil society organizations in direction of increasing birth rate. E.Altanzul