Therefore, this Meeting provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the lessons of the last few years in promoting industrial and technological development and to contribute towards developing a consensus on revitalizing the momentum of that development during the coming years. Mr. Mooy urged participants to seriously consider the issues and concerns in decisions on the future course of action they may take to preserve past gains and revitalize the industrial and technological dynamism of the region. The Meeting will consider the report of the Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials and adopt a Ministerial Declaration which contains a set of recommendations providing guidelines for national policy orientation to meet the challenges for sustaining industrial and technological dynamism in countries of the region. A Regional Plan of Action calling for various economic cooperation measures in order to accelerate industrial and technological development in the region is also expected to be adopted within the framework of the Ministerial Declaration. Government representatives, including Ministers attending the Meeting are from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, India, Indonesia, Islamic republic of Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Turkey, United states of America, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Observers are representatives from Chile, Germany, Hungary, Peru, Romania and Switzerland.