Bangkok--9 Oct--UNIS Bangkok Senior officials andrepresentatives from about 25 countries in Asia and the Pacific havegathered in Macao for a high-level meeting which will review progress theregion has made in response to the challenges posed by population ageing. Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia andthe Pacific (UNESCAP) with the support of the Government of Macao SpecialAdministrative Region (SAR), China, the meeting, which opened today, willreview key developments in the area of ageing since 2002, when a landmarkagreement was adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Madrid International Plan ofAction on Ageing -- a milestone document which calls for changes inattitudes, policies and practices at all levels and in all sectors, so thatthe enormous potential of “a society for all ages” may be fulfilled in the21st century. “This meeting provides an opportunity for governments and civil society toreview and appraise the results of their work on ageing issues, exchangeinformation and experience, and identify priorities for the future”, saidThelma Kay, Director, Emerging Social Issues Division of UNESCAP, at theopening of the meeting, which is being held from 9 to 11 October at Macao’sTourism Activities Centre. She noted that “ for the first time [at the Second World Assembly onAgeing], governments agreed on the need to link ageing to other frameworksfor social and economic development and human rights, recognizing thatageing will be the dominant and most visible demographic phenomenon in thepresent century.” Ms.Kay added that “recognizing the many social and economic implications ofthe ageing process, governments in the region today have accorded higherattention to ageing issues and many embarked on developing their ownnational plans and policies for older persons”. “In the next three days, we will hear more about the efforts made byrespective Governments in tackling the challenges of ageing”, she said. The Meeting was officially inaugurated by Mr. Chui Sai On, Secretary forSocial Affairs and Culture, Government of Macao SAR, China. Besides examining the region’s changing demographic dynamics and progressmade in implementing the Madrid Plan of Action, the high-level meeting willidentify priorities for further actions in three pillar areas; olderpersons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age, andensuring enabling and supportive environments. Naohiro Ogawa from Nihon University, Japan; Alfred Chan, LingnanUniversity, Hong Kong, China, and Eva Anne J. Sabdono, Yayasan EmongLansia, Indonesia, are among the prominent demographers/researchers whowill address the meeting. In Asia and the Pacific, the number of older persons is growing rapidly,from 410 million in 2007 to about 733 million in 2025 and to an expected1.3 billion in 2050. In terms of percentages, older persons will constituteabout 15 per cent of the total population in 2025 and up to nearly 25 percent by 2050, from over 10 per cent now. “Population ageing brings significant economic and social challenges, fordeveloped and developing countries alike”, said United NationsSecretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, in a message marking the InternationalDay of Older Persons on 1 October. “Sobering statistics show that some 80 per cent of the world’s populationare not covered by social protection in old age. Finding ways to provideeconomic support for a growing number of older persons, through sustainablepension programmes and new social protection measures, is a daunting task,particularly in developing countries”, Mr. Ban said. The High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Madrid InternationalPlan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) will conclude on Thursday 11 October. Apress conference will be held on that day at 16.00 in the TourismActivities Centre.