General Assembly Session 58 meeting 71

Mr. Balarezo (Peru)

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the States of the Rio Group -- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and my own country, Peru.

With the convening in Geneva this week of the World Summit on the Information Society, this is a good opportunity for the General Assembly, as the most representative forum, to voice its will to encourage and coordinate initiatives making it possible to overcome the challenges linked to the revolution in information and communication technologies in the context of development.

The Rio Group would like to express once again its hope that the digital divide will be reduced, as that divide constitutes a new form of exclusion at the national and international levels. We are committed, therefore, to launching initiatives to advance equality of opportunity in access to and the use of information technology and communications. That commitment is based on the conviction that the use and exploitation of such new technologies are indispensable in all strategies to eliminate poverty and to ensure sustainable economic growth.

The heads of State of the Rio Group, at their latest Summit held in May 2003 in Cusco, Peru, affirmed the strategic importance of that component in their action plans for the elimination of poverty. To that end, in order to give priority status to the development of such technologies, the heads of State decided to take

"measures aimed at the promotion of educational and scientific-technological strategies that assert elements of competitiveness, secure access for those with meagre resources, and enable us to progressively join the information society".

That society, in which knowledge and information constitute the main sources of progress, must be built with a view to promoting the welfare of the individual and the elimination of the current socio-economic differences in our societies, while avoiding new forms of exclusion.

The Latin America and the Caribbean region has had the opportunity to make an important contribution to the preparatory process of the World Summit on the Information Society. In January 2003 we met in Bávaro, thanks to the kind offer of the Dominican Republic, a member of our Group. In that meeting we adopted a declaration based on the ruling principles and main themes that, in the view of the Rio Group, need to be examined at the Summit and in its follow-up. In that way, the countries of our region offer their widest support to the promotion of dialogue on policies concerning global tendencies in the information society and to the promotion of regional activities.

Following the Bávaro declaration, the Rio Group has intensified its cooperation and exchange of information at the regional level and in the framework of preparations for the Summit. In addition, the agreed declaration is a valuable tool for our Governments in the elaboration of new policies and the adoption of measures aimed at developing an information society.

Nevertheless, those efforts must be accompanied by a common vision and international initiatives that will allow for capacity-building among developing countries, so that they can take advantage of information and communication technologies and at the same time promote conditions for a propitious international environment that will lead to universal access to such technologies.

The Rio Group supports the efforts of the Preparatory Committee for the Summit aimed at establishing a group of universally accepted basic principles as a framework upon which to build the information society. Such principles include its contribution to economic and sustainable development, infrastructure development, capacity-building, acknowledgement of linguistic and multicultural diversity and international cooperation. In addition, the Group feels that consideration needs to be given to tailoring treatment to differing capacities, owing to the unequal distribution of resources among countries. It stresses the need to establish concrete commitments to reduce and eventually eliminate the digital divide.

Finally, the Rio Group would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/58/568), presented in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, on the progress attained in the elaboration of a broad and coherent strategy on information and communication technologies for the United Nations system.

That work is complex and requires the active participation of all parties involved, so that the strategy can respond to the specific needs and features of each entity and at the same time secure better coordination and synergies among the activities of the different programmes and agencies of the United Nations system.

As stated in the report, we hope in 2004 to receive a comprehensive proposal and a corresponding plan of action that includes all of the entities of the United Nations system. The Rio Group attaches great importance to the project, and we are convinced that it will contribute to the increased efficiency and efficacy of the United Nations and will be able to transform it into a knowledge-based system of organizations.

Mr. Ge Songxue (China)

The Chinese delegation has closely studied the report of the Secretary-General on information and communication technologies for development (A/58/568). We wish to express our appreciation for the initiative of the Secretary-General to use information and communication technologies (ICT) as a strategic tool to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the programmes and technical cooperation activities of the United Nations system. Elements included in the information and communication technologies strategy, such as e-management, knowledge-sharing, better services, infrastructure, security, capacity-building and governance are all very important. We hope that the strategy can be successfully implemented.

Statements made by all speakers on this item reflect a consensus that information and communication technologies are of great importance for development. It is encouraging to note that countries have made progress in varying degrees in using ICT for development. China is a large developing country and we have first-hand knowledge of the significance of such technologies for development.

Over two decades ago, the Chinese Government decided to make economic development its priority, using the construction of its communication system as a starting point. The Chinese Government clearly realized that steady economic growth could only be assured by making full use of the opportunities available in the age of information by accelerating the development of information, communication and network technologies and by energetically using those technologies in the economic, social, science and technology, national defence, educational, cultural and legal fields.

After years of hard work, China has established a countrywide high-capacity high-speed basic transmission network, composed mainly of fibre optic cable supplemented by satellite and digital microwave communication. Eight vertical lines running north to south and eight horizontal lines running east to west form a national fibre optic cable grid connecting all provincial capitals and over 90 per cent of towns and counties. By the end of 2002, China already had 20.83 million computers linked to the Internet and 59.1 million Internet users, ranking second in the world in Internet use. However, compared with its total population, the Internet users only account for 4.6 per cent of the population, indicating that the impressive number of users does not correspond to extensive Internet use by the general population. There is a huge amount of room for further development.

Marked progress has been made in developing and using communication technology in China. The communication network has been expanded from small to large capacity, from analog to digital technology and from single-service to diversified services, thus meeting the basic needs of social and economic development in the information age. With China's entry into the World Trade Organization, the telecommunication sector has been opened to the outside world. The development of ICT in China has made an outstanding contribution to enhancing our national economic strength, reinforcing national defence and raising living standards.

Information and communication technologies and the information industry have touched all economic and social sectors in China. They are playing an important role in providing better information services to society and improving the quality of life. Information and communication technologies have also provided an advanced operational means and the requisite network technology for China's macroeconomic control, economic performance and security. Those technologies are major contributors to the transformation of traditional technologies in enterprises, improving labour productivity and accelerating industrialization through informatization, leading to good economic returns and social benefits. In turn, the information industry itself has benefited from the growth of business. In 2002, the value added by the information industry reached 5.7 per cent of China's gross domestic product.

To use information and communication technologies to promote development and eliminate the digital divide requires the concerted effort of the international community. The World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in Geneva in December this year and in Tunisia in 2005, is a good opportunity for us to discuss how, through financial aid, technology transfer and capacity-building, developing countries can be better helped to use information and communication technologies for development in order to realize the Millennium Development Goals. China is ready to work actively with the international community in this endeavour.

Mr. Hachani (Tunisia)

The Tunisian delegation attaches particular importance to the debate that brings us together today, on information and communication technologies in the service of development, particularly since this meeting is being held on the eve of the beginning of work in Geneva on the first stage of the World Summit on the Information Society. The second stage of the Summit, which will be held in Tunisia from 16 to 18 November 2005, is a historic event that will give information and communication technologies a central role in the advancement of just and lasting development and a balanced information society accessible to all.

Everyone today is aware of the pivotal role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in promoting development, stimulating growth and alleviating poverty. However, this revolution has not touched the vast majority of the world's people. The digital divide threatens to exacerbate the digital gap between the industrialized and the developing countries. This situation concerns all of us and requires practical measures to enable all countries to benefit from the enormous opportunities provided by the development of technology and the digital information revolution.

It is our hope that the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society will enable us to identify ways and means to exploit the possibilities provided by new technologies in order to help countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals and benefit from the potential of globalization and the establishment of a new type of relations among nations based, on solidarity and the sharing of knowledge in a way that opens new perspectives and which will alleviate the social gaps between the countries of the North and South. We believe that great technological progress is meaningful only if it is placed at the service of all; insufficient access of developing countries to ICT threatens to exacerbate their marginalization and delay their integration into the global economy.

The United Nations, which has placed the economic, social and science and technology fields at the centre of its concerns, is the ideal forum for seeking a solution to the gap separating developed and developing countries in all areas, including the digital divide, and for enabling developing countries to be integrated into the global economy. We welcome the outstanding progress made by the United Nations in the use of ICT and the efforts made to forge important partnerships, including with the private sector, in order to reduce the digital divide and take advantage of the possibilities offered by technology to advance development.

In resolution 57/295, the General Assembly emphasized the importance of using ICT as a strategic tool to strengthen the usefulness, effectiveness and impact of the development programmes and technical cooperation activities of the United Nations system. In that regard, we would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/58/568), submitted for the Assembly's consideration, concerning the results of cooperation in information and telecommunication technologies within the United Nations system under operative paragraph four of the aforementioned resolution. In particular, we welcome the fact that it is increasingly recognized that ICT, if wisely and methodically used, makes it possible not only to improve management and administration but also to strengthen the implementation of programmes and to enhance the scope of action of various bodies, as well as the implementation of their objectives, thereby providing greater coherence, efficiency and profitability.

The Tunisian delegation welcomes the initiatives under way within the United Nations system to elaborate tools and instruments to optimize the use of the possibilities offered by ICT and their integration into development and technical cooperation activities undertaken by the various United Nations bodies.

Tunisia has placed itself in the vanguard of the fight against the digital divide by investing massively in information technology and the Internet. Tunisia's performance in the area of ICT -- the implementation of ICT in universities and educational institutions, the creation of high-tech business zones to encourage research and technological innovation, the expansion of various types of communications networks and the increase in connectivity rates, in addition to the growing number of Internet users and the opening of horizons to all strata of the population so that they can keep up with scientific and technological progress -- those achievements have earned Tunisia the honour and privilege of being selected to host the World Summit on the Information Society. Today, Tunisia is working on the task of carrying out the preparations for hosting the Summit during its second stage, from 16 to 18 November 2005 in Tunis.

We are counting on the General Assembly to adopt during its present session the recommendations and decisions required to provide its effective support and directives for the second stage of the Summit once the first stage, from 10 to 12 of December of this year, is concluded in Geneva.

Mr. Akram (Pakistan)

During the last two decades, the global economy has gone through fundamental changes. The process of globalization, driven by trade and technological innovations has radically changed the paradigms in almost every domain of human activities. Tremendous advancement in science and technology, especially in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT), has expanded the network of transnational linkages, and the digital and information revolution has provided historical opportunity for developing countries to take a quantum leap forward and integrate into the global economy.

Paradoxically, this process of global, economic and technological development has also resulted in an uneven distribution of benefits, thereby accentuating global economic polarization. As a result of the dramatic advancement of modern technology, the digital divide has further widened, as has the income and development gap between the developed and developing countries. The benefits of technological expansion have not reached the poor.

The technological revolution has magnified the socio-economic disparities and divides. Nevertheless, there is broad consensus that technology, especially ICT, is the way of the future. With universal access, it can serve as the engine of economic growth and development. The challenge is how to ensure that the technological revolution, particularly ICT, benefits every inhabitant of the world.

One cannot deny the fact that to manage globalization and make technology work for the poor, the international community needs to adopt a holistic, progressive and participatory approach, an approach that ensures the utilization of technology towards the development needs of the developing countries and that leads to poverty eradication. An important prerequisite for attaining this objective will be the creation of an enabling international environment supportive of development. The transfer of technology to developing countries should be an important element of this approach. Investment in basic literacy infrastructure and human resource development are essential to make ICT work for the development of the poor communities.

The United Nations is well placed to lead the world in placing science and technology in the service of development. By building partnerships with all relevant actors, the United Nations can lead the way in promoting the development objectives of developing countries. In this regard, we feel that the establishment of the United Nations Information and Communications Technology Task Force was a timely step in the right direction. There is need to give full support to this United Nations initiative. On our part, Pakistan fully supports its programmes and activities and hopes that the Task Force will continue to support the United Nations membership in its efforts to make ICT work for its development.

The holding of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva this week is yet another important step. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Zafarullah Khan Jamali, will lead the Pakistan delegation to the Geneva Summit. We look forward to a successful outcome of this phase, as well as of its second phase, to be held in Tunisia in 2005. Pakistan has actively participated in its preparatory process and will continue to lend its full support to both phases of the Summit.

We also believe that strengthening the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology, by improving its efficiency and effectiveness, is an imperative. We need to empower the Economic and Social Council and its affiliated bodies dealing with science and technology to strengthen the capacities of the developing countries, in order to enable them to reap the fruits of the ICT revolution.

For our part, the Government of Pakistan has adopted a holistic, progressive, participatory and all-encompassing approach to the promotion of information and communication technology in our country. A National Commission for Science and Technology, headed by the President of Pakistan, has been established. A proposal to establish an advisory body to examine ways and means to develop those areas of science and technology that are directly related to economic development and national security are also under consideration.

An all-out effort to strengthen the science base in the country is being made. For that, synergy between the Ministries of Education and Science and Technology is being created. To achieve that target, the Government of Pakistan is concentrating on upgrading infrastructure in research and development organizations and institutes, as well as on technology development, creating linkages between industry and academia and the development of an extensive pool of human resources in key areas of science and technology.

A vibrant national information technology policy has been launched. Our information technology policy is aimed at the realization of the role of the Government as a facilitator and an enabler; secondly, at the development of an extensive skilled information technology workforce; thirdly, at providing business incentives for both local and foreign investors; at designing legislative and regulatory frameworks that are conducive to the promotion of the information technology industry as the engine of development; and, finally, at the establishment of an efficient and cost-effective infrastructure that provides affordable and widespread connectivity, as well as equitable access to networks.

Pakistan is also actively seeking foreign investment in the sectors of telecommunications and software development. A liberal investment environment, which includes 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies, repatriation of profits and favourable legislation is being offered. This, coupled with intelligent, motivated and young information technology human resources provide conducive conditions for foreign investment. The Government is also encouraging joint ventures in the information technology industry in Pakistan.

Pakistan, like many other developing countries, has endeavoured to strategically place itself so that it could benefit from the immense potential of information and telecommunication technology. These policies and efforts can yield the desired results only with a commensurate international effort to place ICT in the service of development.

Mr. Mustapha (Malaysia)

We have been witnessing, in the past 10 years especially, how information and communication technologies (ICT) are transforming our world. Hundreds of years ago, communication physically travelled by word of mouth from one person to another. It took days and months for us to send information to others in different parts of the world. Today we are able to communicate in real time, virtually facing each other and involved in real discussion, while we sit in front of monitors at different locations across the globe.

ICT has immense potential and, if properly harnessed, could provide opportunities to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, to leapfrog in their development process. However, due largely to the marginalization of developing countries over the years, stemming from the globalization process, ICT has not been able to assume its catalytic role as a development enabler. On the other hand, it could contribute to widening the divide between the developed and the developing countries. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), there are more than 500 million Internet users worldwide, but 80 per cent of them are in the developed world. Further, in the developing world, only one in every 50 persons has Internet access, compared with two out of every five in the developed world. Clearly, adequate and urgent steps would have to be taken to reverse this digital divide. Otherwise, developing countries would be further marginalized.

In this regard, the convening of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005, is timely. It would provide the world an opportunity to develop a better understanding of the information revolution and its impact on the international community. The Summit is an important forum for the international community to affirm its commitment to address the digital divide in a meaningful way. In this regard, Malaysia believes that the outcome of the Summit must be action-oriented and contain concrete goals, as well as implementable measures, which would particularly benefit the developing countries and help facilitate their development.

At the same time, the Summit must also give due attention to the issue of info-security. While noting that the Internet is largely self-governing, Malaysia believes that failure to establish rules framing Internet governance will result in the abuse and misuse of the Internet, which may have a far-reaching impact on the socio-economic sector. Nevertheless, we recognize that a balance must be found between judicious regulation and the need for the Internet to retain its freedom and creativity.

Information is a source of immense potential and an important factor for change. With the advent of technology and communication breakthroughs, as well as the relentless forces of liberalization and deregulation beating on our door, our world is fast changing. All countries now face new challenges in transitioning from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

We need to leapfrog into the knowledge age and propel our society and our economy into a more competitive position vis-à-vis the rest of the world. The Government of Malaysia, since the early 1990s, has embarked on creating an information society in the country. A Multimedia Super Corridor was launched in 1995 as a first step to leapfrog Malaysian society into the digital age. Since then, the transformation into a knowledge society is progressing well under the monitoring of the National Information Technology Council.

One of the main challenges we face in Malaysia is the question of Internet access or penetration to all segments of society. Malaysia's penetration rate for fixed line is only 21 per cent, compared to the world class standard of 50 per cent. In the same vein, the rate of mobile line use is 23 per cent, also as compared to 50 per cent. There are also 9.4 computer users for every 100 Malaysians, whereas the world class rate is 40.

In that connection, the Government has taken efforts to bridge the information and digital gap among the local communities. Under the current development allocation for ICT-related programmes for 2001 to 2005, the bulk of the RM 6.2 billion budget has been earmarked for infrastructure development. Recently also, in recognition of the central role of youth in nation-building, the National Information Technology Centre sponsored the InfoSoc (Information-Society) Malaysia 2003 International Conference and Exhibition, which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 21 to 24 June this year, with the theme "Catalysing youth for value creation: leveraging on ICT".

The United Nations is well positioned to take a lead role in shaping the global ICT vision for development. Clearly, the greatest challenge is to bridge the digital divide and foster digital opportunity for all mankind. ICT provides tools that can help make the world a better place by alleviating poverty, improving the delivery of education and healthcare services and making Government more accessible to the people. This is the vision of the Millennium Development Goals, adopted by our leaders in 2000.

The World Summit on the Information Society is the next international gathering that will shape international cooperation at the multilateral level. It offers us an opportunity to shape the future course of the information society in a positive way by ensuring that it benefits all citizens. The developed countries must therefore assist the developing countries in their efforts to develop technologies, as embodied in the Millennium Declaration agreed to by our leaders. The work of the ICT Task Force and the Group of 8 Digital Opportunities Task Force will be critical in this regard. Malaysia stands ready to contribute, within its capabilities, towards promoting international cooperation in the area of information and communication technologies, especially among the developing countries.

Mr. Requeijo Gual (Cuba)

First we wish to thank the Secretary-General for the introduction of his report, contained in document A/58/568.

We are living in the era of technological revolution, where information and communication technologies (ICT) make it possible for countries to have real-time access to all events taking place in the world and to obtain information on the most recent technological advances. However, this reality is in contrast with the asymmetry and the imbalance caused by the process of neo-liberal globalization, where the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. The difference in income between the richest and the poorest countries, which was 37 times greater in 1960, is today 74 times greater. On the one hand, there is rapid growth in trade, finance, information and technology, while, on the other, an increase in poverty, marginalization, poor health and illiteracy. The technological divide between developing and developed countries is increasing by leaps and bounds.

The information and communication technologies revolution has brought about the boom of the world economy. However, not all actors are participating on an equal footing. Developed countries, as well as major transnational corporations, exert an overwhelming influence and consequently reap the benefits, while, in developed countries, e-trade, cell phones and instant message relay are everywhere; just to give one example, more than half of the world's population living in developing countries do not even have access to the telephone network.

How can we speak in the developing countries about new information and communication technologies, given the economic and social situation they are subjected to as a result of prevailing unequal international economic relations? The world's developing countries have limited financial resources, which they must devote to combating poverty, malnutrition, poor health and illiteracy. They lack the human resources and the infrastructure necessary to access the opportunities provided by the technological revolution.

The future of mankind depends to a great extent on ensuring a rational approach to development in which there is a greater distribution of wealth and where the gap between the rich and the poor countries is breached and sustainability is guaranteed. For that to happen, a new, just, democratic and fair world order is required, in which developing countries participate on an equal footing in the decision-making process on global problems.

We also need to establish effective cooperation among all international actors, in order to increase the effect of information and communication technologies on development, allowing for technology transfer to developing countries on a preferential basis, particularly technologies related to expertise, as well as for training and technical assistance so that our countries can develop their human resources.

We must also put an end to the use of unilateral measures that contravene international law and affect access to information and communication technologies and to international networks of information and communication exchange. The Cuban delegation believes that certification systems and the possible sanctioning of a State with regard to access to telecommunication technologies or to other technologies, which are closely linked because of possible threats to international peace and security, must be multilateral in nature and must be based on modalities agreed by the international community.

Cuba is carrying out a strategy to introduce information technology to all spheres of society, despite the cruel and brutal economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States and despite serious constraints in resources. Our first priority is to provide training for individuals, in particular, for our young people. The creation of young people's computer clubs throughout the country has made available the necessary equipment and instructors to teach computers to children and adolescents for free. Similarly, during the past school year, 117,868 girls and boys at the pre-school level in primary schools had access to computers for thirty minutes a week. Based on this course, the 23,527 young children registered at the pre-school level in daycare centres are also benefiting.

Today we have 46,290 computers installed in pre-school, primary and middle schools, including all rural schools. In order to ensure their use, 2,368 schools that did not have electricity because of their distance from the national electric grid were equipped with solar panels. Among those schools, 93 have only one student each.

Similarly, Cuban education makes use of 78 software programs, 37 of them at the secondary level and the rest at the primary level. This has meant that students can, through interactive programmes and with the use of multimedia, obtain much more knowledge for their overall training. Similarly, technological computer schools have been set up to prepare thousands of young people in the basics of computers and electronics. This is a necessary step in increasing the level of information technology in all spheres of society.

My delegation welcomes the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society, the first stage of which will be held this week in Geneva, and its second stage will be held in Tunis in 2005. We hope that at that forum specific actions and initiatives will be established allowing developing countries to take part in world technological progress and move toward development.

Mr. Aboutahir (Morocco)

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to ask you, Mr. President, to leave open item 49 of the General Assembly's agenda, entitled "Information and communication technology for development". The importance of the first stage of the Geneva Summit on the Information Society requires that we show patience here so as to be able to take into account the results of this first stage of the World Summit and also to enable us to take into consideration the launching of the preparatory process for the second stage, planned for Tunis in 2005. It is in that context that the Second Committee suspended action on draft resolution A/C.2/58/L.42 on the World Summit on the Information Society in order to be able to bring it directly to the plenary of the General Assembly in due time. Draft resolution A/C.2/58/L.42, to be reintroduced soon, should reflect the results of the first stage in Geneva and launch the preparatory process for the second stage of the World Summit in Tunis.

These are the reasons why the Group of 77 and China hopes to have the understanding of the General Assembly in leaving agenda item 49 still open.

The President

I thank the representative of Morocco who is in effect the last speaker in this debate on this item. It is therefore my understanding that a draft resolution under this item will be submitted at a later date.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 49.