Statement
of H.E. Mme ton nu thi ninh
at the Third United Nations Conference on Least
Developed Countries
(Brussels, 14-20 May 2001)
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished
Delegates,
Ladies
and gentlemen
First
of all, allow me, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, to express our
gratitude to the United Nations for holding the Third Conference on Least
Developed Countries. My thanks also go to the European Union and the Government
of Belgium for hosting this important event and giving us their warmest
hospitality.
Mr.
Chairman,
The
Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries which takes place
at the beginning of the 21st century is an important occasion for
the international community to share the difficulties and challenges that LDCs
are facing in the era of globalisation. Through this conference, the
international community can discuss and reiterate its strong support for the
future development of LDCs in the first decade of the new century.
Since the Second Conference, new
developments in the international environment, particularly the accelerating
process of globalisation and the emergence of the knowledge economy, have
brought about great challenges to LDCs. While trade preferences from developed
countries have been gradually removed, the existing international trading
system still holds many inequalities and disadvantages for poor countries.
Their terms of trade are worsening substantially, which makes them lag further
behind and affects the lives of a large section of their population, especially
farmers. Furthermore, debt has become a serious problem that LDCs can hardly
address by themselves. Meanwhile, financing sources for development,
particularly official development assistance, are shrinking and are
increasingly attached more stringent conditionalities. Moreover, the efforts of
the international community to promote the integration of the LDCs into the
regional and global economy have resulted in little progress, mainly because of
their difficulties, inter alia,
inadequate infrastructure, unstable prices and foreign exchange rates,
small-scale production, absence of implementation rules etc.
These
unfavorable conditions of the international environment have marginalised LDCs
and widened the gap between the rich and the poor, between the have and the
have-not.
In this context,
bridging the development gap becomes our top priority in the first decade of
the 21st century. A new Programme of Action for LDCs is therefore
needed to reiterate international support and clarify concrete commitments,
especially those from developed countries, to help LDCs cope with development
challenges. In the upcoming years, more preferences in all aspects of
international economic relations should be given to LDCs and other poor
countries. First, the international trading system must take into account
legitimate interests of LDCs, especially with regard to the issues of agriculture,
garment and textiles etc. in the course of the next WTO negotiations round. In
this respect, due focus should be given to the leverage impact of trade
promotion, including market access. In addition, the accession of non-member
countries, almost all of which are LDCs and developing ones, to the WTO should
also be facilitated so as to help further integrate these countries into the
world economy.
Second, LDCs is facing
a serious shortage of development financing. In the upcoming years, it is essential
that donor countries increase ODA budget to their committed level of 0.7% GNP,
or at least refrain from any cut-backs. Otherwise it will have a serious
negative impact on LDCs and developing countries.
Third, resolving the
debt problem is a crucial factor in reviving the development momentum of LDCs.
We highly appreciate the recent initiatives of debt reduction and debt
forgiveness for highly indebted poor countries (HIPCs), but insist that further
steps be taken and that these initiatives be extended to a wider range of
debtor countries.
Fourth,
technological capability building is of particular importance for the LDCs
since the success in technological advancement constitutes a key factor in
their ability to compete in the regional and global markets. Therefore, we
believe that developed countries should help the LDCs promote industrial
restructuring.
Fifth,
the divergence regarding factor endowments, market size, etc. among the LDCs
demonstrates that there is a possibility for complementary development.
Therefore, economic and trade cooperation among the LDCs should be further
promoted.
Mr. Chairman,
In a world of
increasing interdependence, international efforts for a more equitable
development will definitely contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability
and the interests of all countries. Though Vietnam is not an LDC, it is a poor
developing country and has similar economic difficulties of LDCs. We therefore
understand and share many of their concerns. In the spirit of solidarity and
friendship with LDCs, we hope that the first decade of this century will
witness the graduation of many countries from LDC status as well as a
remarkable progress on their path to prosperity.
Thank
you Mr. Chairman.