International trade and development

Recognizes the importance of the expansion of international trade as an engine of growth and development; renews its commitment to uphold and strengthen an open, rule-based, equitable, secure, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable multilateral trade system; deplores any attempt to bypass or undermine multilaterally agreed procedures of international trade; reaffirms the role of UNCTAD as the focal point within the UN for the integrated treatment of development and related issues; requests UNCTAD to continue to identify and analyse the implications for development of issues relevant to investment; notes with appreciation the initiative of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD to invite the executive secretaries of the UN regional commissions to participate in the discussions of the Trade and Development Board; notes the increasing importance and application of electronic commerce in international trade; reiterates the importance of continued trade liberalization in developed and developing countries; also reiterates that it is an ethical imperative for the international community to arrest and reverse the marginalization of the least developed countries; stresses the urgent need to facilitate the integration of the countries of Africa into the world economy; emphasizes the importance of the strengthening of the international trading system; stresses the need for improved measures to address the effects of the financial crisis on the international trading system.

Adopted without vote, 91st meeting

6 p.

Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, 15 Dec. 1998.