They also urged increased efforts to protect the subregion's quickly dwindling forests.

The recommendations came at the close of the East and Southeast Asian millennium development goals (MDG) Forum held in Hanoi.

More than 100 participants from 12 countries identified common roadblocks to universal primary and secondary education, healthcare for mothers and children, equal treatment of women, sustainable use of forests, and obtaining the human and financial resources to meet common development goals.

Unescap (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) executive secretary Kim Hak-Su told the forum that the action plan pinpointed key areas where urgent action is needed, which would be included in developing and refining a regional road map to meeting the MDGs.

"I have no doubt in my mind that, together, we can not only achieve the MDGs in time, but also go beyond the targets. I am sure that soon Asia-Pacific will become free of poverty and its entire people will live a dignified life worthy of all human beings," he said.

Ayumi Konishi, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) director for Vietnam, said much more effort was needed on the part of all stakeholders to achieve the MDGs.

It "is a collective responsibility for all of us governments, international community, the private sector and civil society," he said. All stakeholders need to redouble their efforts so that the region can achieve all of the MDGs, and the ADB will fully support this effort.

David Lockwood, the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) deputy regional director for Asia-Pacific, said he was pleased that gender equality was earnestly deliberated in the forum.

"This is a welcome indicator that finally countries are addressing this major inequality in their societies. The report from a number of countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, on the progress of gender-responsive budgets, was highly encouraging," he said.

"This is one area that the UNDP has been supporting through its regional centre and country offices, and in partnership with various UN agencies."

Other recommendations include improving the quality and availability of teachers, especially in rural and remote areas, to disadvantaged groups such as minorities, child workers and the disabled, and improving accessibility of healthcare facilities in remote and mountainous areas.

The action plan stressed the need to change traditional/cultural perceptions of women's role in politics, and train women elected officials at the local level to enter national-level politics.

It also suggested considering economic instruments such as fees or taxes to support the sustainable use of forests and water resources, and creating new and strengthening existing South/South partnerships in the subregion.

The forum is part of an initiative by Unescap, the UNDP and the ADB.