Common responses to emerging challenges in advancing comprehensive security, focus at 2021 OSCE Asian Conference opening on Monday

VIENNA, 17 September 2021 – The 2021 OSCE Asian Conference, focusing on “Common responses to emerging challenges in advancing comprehensive security", will be held on 20 and 21 September 2021, in a hybrid format, at the Hofburg in Vienna and via Zoom.

The Conference is co-organized by Thailand, an OSCE Asian Partner for Co-operation, and Albania, the 2021 Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group, with the support of the OSCE External Co-operation Section/Secretariat.

Representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States, OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation, international organizations, academia and the private sector will discuss approaches to strengthening comprehensive security with particular focus on current trends and challenges in the fight against organized crime, as well as in the areas of sustainable development, economic and environmental challenges, including climate change and the unsustainable use of natural resources, and the nexus between human rights and public health against the backdrop of the ongoing global pandemic.

The Conference will be opened by:

• Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand;
• Olta Xhaçka, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania;
• Ann Linde, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden;
• Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN;
• Ambassador Luca Fratini, Director, Office of the OSCE Secretary General
• Bogusław Winid, Head, Task Force of the Incoming Polish OSCE Chairmanship.

The OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation are Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

The opening session on Monday, 20 September, from 9.30 to 10.30 (or 14.30 to 15.30 Thailand Standard Time), will be live streamed on www.osce.org/live. No registration is required. For questions, please contact press@osce.org.