Asia-Pacific countries preserved stable economic growth despite crisis - UN Sec Gen

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Noeleen Heyzer has said today reading out the message of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the participants of the sixth Conference of Ministers of Environmental Protection in Astana today.

"In 15 years the number of people living in absolute poverty fell from 1.9 bln to 979 mln people. This is impressive, taking into account the fact that the population of the region increased by 800 mln people during the same period. However, a big work is to be done yet. Hundred millions of people in the regions are still living in poverty having no access to drinking water and measures of sanitation, healthcare services and education", the message writes.

The UN Secretary General also noted that the economic growth resulted in serious environmental damage.