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The 3rd Conference of the UN-NGO-Informal Regional Network/Asia-Pacific£¬sponsored by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) and the NGO Section of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), was held in Beijing from April 28th to 29th 2008 on the theme of ¡°Sustainable Development and Green Olympics¡±. Mr. Nikhil Seth, Director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, UN, attended the conference together with more than 150 representatives from 80 Chinese NGOs and NGOs from 11 foreign countries. Mr. Cheng Siwei, former Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People¡¯s Congress, Mr. Zhang Zhijun, President of CNIE, Mr. Tu Mingde, Vice-President of Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and assistant President of Beijing Organizing Committee of 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG), and Mr. Huang Chengxiang, President of Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges delivered their speeches at the opening ceremony. Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under Secretary General, sent a video good-will message to the conference.
During the conference, discussions were focused on the topics of Sustainable Development and Green Olympics, NGO and Green Olympics and NGO and Sustainable Development. A recommendation paper to the Annual Ministerial Review at UN ECOSOC HLS was approved by the Conference. The participants attended the activities such as signing for Sustainable Development and Green Olympics, tree planting at the Great Wall Friendship Forest and the 100-day countdown civil celebration. They also visited Qinghe Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant and Olympic venues. Ms. Yang Yang, twice Winter Olympic gold medallist, made a statement of Chinese Athletes Calling for a Peaceful and Harmonious Olympiad.
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