A Chinese delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang left Beijing Sunday for a session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 59th session of ESCAP, from Sep. 1 to 4, will focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, regional economic cooperation, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, globalization and other emerging social issues.

The theme of this year's session is "Integrating economic and social concerns, especially HIV/AIDS, in meeting the needs of the region".

During the session, a round-table ministerial conference will be held to discuss HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and the fulfillment of the United Nations millennium goals.

ESCAP is a UN organization for Asian and Pacific countries to discuss economic and social problems.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2003)