TCS Co-hosts Side Event on Sand and Dust Storms and Signs MOU with ESCAP at CS82

4th May 2026 | Source: ESCAP

▲SG. LEE delivering his remarks at the side event

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<div style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.8;"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:arial">The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delegation participated in the 82nd session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP CS82) from 20 to 24 April 2026, contributing actively to key discussions and side events. </span></span></div>

<div style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.8;"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:arial">A major highlight was the side event on sand and dust storms (SDS), Leaving No One Behind in a Dusty World: Regional Cooperation on Sand and Dust Storms for All Ages, convened on 23 April and co-organized by TCS, ESCAP and Mongolia. The event featured opening remarks by Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, and TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup, as well as a keynote speech by Mr. Battulga Erkhembayar, Director General of the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM) of Mongolia and Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the World Meteorological Organization. The event brought together representatives from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Türkiye and regional organizations to exchange views on enhancing regional cooperation to address the impacts of SDS. </span></span></div>

<div style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.8;"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:arial">In his remarks, Secretary-General LEE underscored that sand and dust storms and population aging are both longstanding priorities of Trilateral Cooperation and closely linked to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted ongoing cooperation under the Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM) and the Trilateral Health Ministers’ Meeting, including collaboration with Mongolia on SDS monitoring and mitigation, as well as efforts to promote active longevity through digital innovation and the silver economy. He also noted preparations for further collaboration with ESCAP on SDS, including at UNCCD COP17, and emphasized the importance of strengthening regional partnerships to advance human well-being and sustainable development. </span></span></div>

<div style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.8;"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:arial">On the sidelines of the session, TCS and ESCAP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a significant step in strengthening institutional cooperation in sustainable development. The MOU provides a framework for enhanced collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including policy dialogue, joint initiatives and knowledge exchange, further reinforcing the partnership between the two organizations in support of regional resilience and the 2030 Agenda. </span></span></div>

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:12pt">?TCS and ESCAP signed MOU to strengthen collaboration </span></span></div>

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:12pt">?Group photo of TCS and ESCAP delegation</span></span></div>
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