§ 26. Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the recent UNCTAD conference in Bangkok. [111198]
§ Clare ShortThe UNCTAD X Conference was devoted to the theme of globalisation and how developing countries can best take advantage of it. Its concluding Declaration emphasised the importance of the multilateral trading system and of building the capacity of developing countries to participate in it fully. The Conference also agreed a Plan Of Action, which sets out the priorities for UNCTAD' s work for the next four years. This will increase the complementarities between the work of UNCTAD and that of the WTO, strengthening its ability to contribute to efforts to build developing countries' capacity to manage their integration into the global economy.
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade spoke in the interactive debate on 13 February. I attended the conference on 16 February and spoke in the interactive debate on trade and development. My statement (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) stressed the importance to developing countries of attracting investment, of maintaining the momentum of the multilateral trade system and of starting a new round of trade negotiations in which the developing countries can advance their interests. My bilateral conversations with the heads of multilateral agencies and developing countries' trade ministers were supportive of the priorities outlined in my speech.
Both the UNCTAD Secretary General and his staff, and the Thai authorities are to be congratulated for preparing and organising this constructive and forward-looking conference.