ID :
181859
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 06:52
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http://m.oananews.org//node/181859
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Foreign Minister attends 4th UN conference on LDCs
VIENTIANE.MAY.(KPL) - Laos has called for the world community to step up assistance to least developed countries so they can achieve their development goals and shake off poverty.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith made the call this week at the plenary session of the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries taking place from May 9 to 13 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001 to 2010, adopted in 2001, was not progressing as planned, he said.
Dr Thongloun noted that all 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were still facing problems including poverty, low income levels, limited production capacity, and the negative impacts of regional and global financial crises.
The international community needs to provide more assistance to help the least developed nations address these problems, continue to implement the programme of action, and honour the commitments that the signatories agreed to in Brussels, he was quoted as saying in a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Thongloun also urged the Fourth United Nations Conference to adopt the Istanbul Programme of Action, which consists of clear measures to assist least developed countries, adding that the measures should be based on cooperation between LDCs and development partners as well as a sincere commitment to help on the part of developed nations.
He said Laos has been successful in implementing the Brussels Programme of Action and has been able to maintain national economic growth and reach poverty reduction and social development goals.
This success was made possible because of government policies and measures – such as adding the action plan goals to the national socio-economic development plan - and its firm commitment to implementing the Brussels programme, he said.
Although Laos has experienced success in national development, it still needs more assistance from the world community to ensure it will leave the UN list of LDCs by 2020, he added.
After attending the plenary session, Dr Thongloun was invited to attend two consultation sessions on the role of trade in development and enhanced sustainable development of least developed countries.
Trade promotion and growth plays a significant role because it mobilises the financial resources necessary for development. However, LDCs do not gain enough benefits from trade because the value of their products accounts for less than 1 percent of global trade, he said.
Least developed countries are at a disadvantage when they try to compete in world markets and the international community must help them to boost production and expand trade to make LDCs more competitive.
He highlighted the challenges that LDCs face in creating and implementing sustainable development programmes that reflect the special circumstances of each country. Further, the number of development partners and the level of cooperation in the international arena needs to be increased to meet the challenges of, and respond to crises faced by, the least developed countries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith made the call this week at the plenary session of the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries taking place from May 9 to 13 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001 to 2010, adopted in 2001, was not progressing as planned, he said.
Dr Thongloun noted that all 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were still facing problems including poverty, low income levels, limited production capacity, and the negative impacts of regional and global financial crises.
The international community needs to provide more assistance to help the least developed nations address these problems, continue to implement the programme of action, and honour the commitments that the signatories agreed to in Brussels, he was quoted as saying in a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Thongloun also urged the Fourth United Nations Conference to adopt the Istanbul Programme of Action, which consists of clear measures to assist least developed countries, adding that the measures should be based on cooperation between LDCs and development partners as well as a sincere commitment to help on the part of developed nations.
He said Laos has been successful in implementing the Brussels Programme of Action and has been able to maintain national economic growth and reach poverty reduction and social development goals.
This success was made possible because of government policies and measures – such as adding the action plan goals to the national socio-economic development plan - and its firm commitment to implementing the Brussels programme, he said.
Although Laos has experienced success in national development, it still needs more assistance from the world community to ensure it will leave the UN list of LDCs by 2020, he added.
After attending the plenary session, Dr Thongloun was invited to attend two consultation sessions on the role of trade in development and enhanced sustainable development of least developed countries.
Trade promotion and growth plays a significant role because it mobilises the financial resources necessary for development. However, LDCs do not gain enough benefits from trade because the value of their products accounts for less than 1 percent of global trade, he said.
Least developed countries are at a disadvantage when they try to compete in world markets and the international community must help them to boost production and expand trade to make LDCs more competitive.
He highlighted the challenges that LDCs face in creating and implementing sustainable development programmes that reflect the special circumstances of each country. Further, the number of development partners and the level of cooperation in the international arena needs to be increased to meet the challenges of, and respond to crises faced by, the least developed countries.
