UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Dear Delegates,
Yifan Wu
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations Economic and Social Committee on Asia and the Pacific. Representing one of the world’s most exciting regions, you will explore some of the most dynamic development issues we face today. I cannot tell you enough how excited I am about the conference. As a freshman from China, Asia and the Pacific’s development carry a personal importance. Having experienced the dramatic transformation my home country has gone through, I feel the countless possibilities but also identify keenly with current problems and hidden downfalls.
Our committee will engage new development opportunities: the first topic is sustaining Asia and the Pacific’s economic dynamics and the second utilizing the internet for civic engagement. Both topics have rapidly evolved over the recent years and are closely connected to debates across borders. In a spirit of creative cooperation and constructive critique, we shall propose, debate and consolidate innovative policies — “be the change you want to see in the world”.
I will do my best to lead the discovery of our topic areas, fully utilizing Harvard’s resources and my personal experience. Meanwhile, I invite you to keep up with the current issues and debates. Model United Nations is not just a conference, but also a persistent dedication to current issues that calls for a critical mind and sympathetic heart. It is precisely because of this elevating experience that I am so drawn to MUN, still as active as I were almost five years ago when I first spoke as a delegate.
Besides MUN, I’m also interested in entrepreneurship and research. I plan on majoring in Social Studies with a minor in Computer Science. My favorite thing to do when I have free time is to attend all kinds of talks related to politics, business and Asia. I also enjoy playing Ping Pong and running by the Charles River. I was born in Shanxi, China; later my family moved to Beijing and lived in Nottingham, UK for two years when I was in middle school. The international exposure is what makes who I am today.
Until the committee begins, I encourage you to email me about MUN, about UNESCAP, about our topics and anything you see fit.
Looking forward to meeting you in person and let’s get prepared for a conference of a lifetime.
Yifan Wu
Director, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Harvard National Model United Nations 2012
Topic Area A: Sustaining Economic Dynamism of Asia and the Pacific: Competition and Collaboration
With a rapidly evolving world economy, member countries can no longer depend on the old economic models. Old growth paths like labor and resource-intensive export are no longer the only option, nor are they the most optimal for Asia’s developing countries. Developed countries are not safe-guarded against economic changes either, as best demonstrated by the 2008 economic crisis. New times call for new models, new methods and new platforms. ESCAP should take the lead to promote and test new policies.
While an emphasis is put on collaboration, we cannot ignore competition. With increasing pressure among all countries to catch up with the changing world, unfair and sometimes relentless methods are adopted for temporary gain. As a global organization foreseeing long-term growth, delegates should look afar and think of methods to enhance productive competition. In this way, not only could the developing countries tremendously boost their sustainability but also help developed countries could explore more of the developing economies’ emerging market.
Delegates could approach this open-ended question as they see fit; some recommended area for reference is facilitating trade, relieving protectionism, creating framework for economic integration and developing financial architecture.
Topic Area B: Call of the New Age: Political Development Through Information and Communications Technology
The last decades witnessed the fastest changed made possible by new developments in information and communications technology (ICT). While the internet, the main contributor, is grass-roots-based by nature, the government’s role cannot be underestimated. The constructive power of the internet is widely acknowledge: new forms of information consumption and trade never imagined before have spread across countries and helped even the poorer economies grow. Yet the destructive power is slowing showing its claws as the internet gains more control over the day to day operations of the entire world. Cyber attacks, copy right infringement, child pornography – among many other issues – need immediate collective actions taken by governments. While finding common grounds is of great difficulty given the diverse political systems Asia and the Pacific countries face, the degree of government control is also a hotly debated topic. Several fundamental values of society, including freedom of speech and privacy protection, have from time to time been challenged. Amidst conflicting needs and urgent calls, how countries could work together and adapt to this new wave of social change is not only of critical importance but also extremely intellectually refreshing.
This topic aims to bring to delegates the most up-to-date political needs and consequently give delegates unprecedented freedom to explore and innovate.
