Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms visited Bangkok to attend the Fourth Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) from 29- 31 March 2017. Prof Iqbal was elected as Chairman of the Forum for this year's session. Besides chairing various meetings of the Forum he participated in high level round-tables and side events organized by UNESCAP, member States and the Civil Society representatives from across the Asia Pacific. In his interventions Prof. Iqbal emphasized on regional cooperation for reducing multidimensional poverty and inequalities and enhancing regional connectivity for mutual prosperity of the Asia Pacific region. He said that the countries of Asia Pacific were facing challenges of climate change, exclusion and limited financial and trade services. South Asia was lagging behind in development and connectivity. He said that more cohesive and comprehensive efforts were required to fill the gaps and create national ownership of SDGs. Bangkok, Thailand 01 April 2017