International trade and development

Recognizes the importance of the expansion of international trade as an engine of growth and development and the need for expeditious and complete integration of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the international trading system, in full cognizance of the opportunities and challenges of globalization and liberalization and taking into account the circumstances of individual countries, in particular the trade interests and development needs of developing countries; requests the Secretary-General to ensure the initiation by UNCTAD in the areas falling within its mandate, of the preparatory process for the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s to be held in 2002, in particular focusing on market access, diversification and supply capacity, resource flows and external debt, foreign direct and portofolio investment and access to technology, and in this context also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report, based on the recommendations of the Trade and Development Board on Africa, on measures taken in this regard, with a special emphasis on African trade issues, for the consideration of the General Assembly at its 56th session under the agenda item entitle "International trade and development"; stresses the need to give special attention to the implementation of the many international development commitments geared to meeting the special development needs and problems of small island developing States and of landlocked developing countries; requests the Secretary-General to promote complementarity in the work of the relevant bodies of the UN system and with other international organizations bearing in mind the mandate of UNCTAD.

Adopted without vote, 87th meeting

7 p.

Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, 22 Dec. 1999.