General Assembly Session 63 meeting 19

The Acting President

I call on His Excellency Mr. Park In-kook, chairman of the delegation of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Park In-kook (Republic of Korea)

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important meeting in a timely fashion. I also wish to express my appreciation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the insightful report (A/63/165) before us. I believe that the report will serve to guide us well. It succinctly summarizes the progress made, the lessons learned and the constraints encountered in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action.

Five years ago, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the participants at the International Ministerial Conference came up with a comprehensive road map to galvanize international solidarity and partnership to assist landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). The outcome of the Conference, the Almaty Declaration and Programme of Action, reflected the strong commitment of the international community to address the special needs of and challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, as called for in the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

In that regard, my delegation takes note of the Secretary-General's overall assessment that, over the past five years, landlocked and transit developing countries, with the support of their development partners, have made tangible progress in implementing the specific actions agreed upon in the Almaty Programme of Action.

As a nation that has struggled against the poverty trap during the last several decades, the Republic of Korea sympathizes with the hardships of the landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and is committed to supporting their efforts to achieve sustainable development. The new Government of the Republic of Korea has made contributing to the international community as a trusted partner one of the pillars of its foreign policy. To that end, we are strengthening our role in official development assistance (ODA) programmes.

Since 2000, our ODA has tripled in volume, with our assistance to Africa increasing threefold over the past three years. We now plan to triple our current ODA to reach over $3 billion by the end of 2015. As ODA remains the major source of funding for infrastructure development in landlocked countries, this record scale-up of our ODA volume will contribute to helping those countries to overcome geographical impediments and pave the way for tangible economic growth and prosperity.

Trade has long been recognized as the engine for development. The Republic of Korea has long utilized trade as a locomotive for our economic growth. Against this backdrop, we are well aware of the pivotal role that trade can play in the a country's development. In this context, my Government extends duty-free and quota-free access to least developed countries. At present, 16 out of 31 landlocked developing countries enjoy the programme my Government provides. We will also increase our contribution to the Integrated Framework for LDCs and will expand our training programmes on the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization.

Efficient transport infrastructure and services are prerequisites for the development of landlocked developing countries and will facilitate their integration into the international trading system and the larger global economy. However, there are still large gaps in terms of financing that cannot be addressed without the involvement of the private sector. To galvanize the flow of private capital into infrastructure development, last year the Korean Government hosted the Ministerial Conference on Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development. The Ministerial Conference on Transport held in Korea in 2006 was yet another effort of my Government to contribute to the cause of infrastructure development.

The digital divide also remains of major concern for landlocked developing countries, with only 2.9 Internet users per 100 inhabitants in 2006. If this gap continues to widen, it may evolve into a serious obstacle that prevents landlocked developing countries from virtually engaging in the international economic system, which is increasingly dependent on information and communication technologies. In this regard, the Republic of Korea is ready to do its part to bridge the digital divide by sharing the technology and know-how that have helped us to enjoy the largest concentration of broadband Internet users in the world.

All in all, this midterm review shows that, although some progress has been made, much more needs to be done to fulfil the commitments we pledged to keep in the Almaty Programme of Action. The development of landlocked developing countries cannot be realized through the efforts of any single player. Rather, it requires the joint efforts of landlocked and transit developing countries, the international community and the United Nations.

I can assure the Assembly that the Republic of Korea, together with other development partners, will stand firmly with landlocked developing countries. We will support their noble endeavours to overcome the special problems caused by their lack of territorial access to the sea and their remoteness and isolation from world markets.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to Mr. Yao Wenlong, representative of China.

Mr. Yao Wenlong (China)

The Chinese delegation offers its congratulations on the successful convening of this meeting. It associates itself with the statement made by the representative of Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and would like to express its appreciation to Under-Secretary-General Diarra and the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States for the all they have done in preparation for this meeting.

Since the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action began five years ago, landlocked developing countries have, thanks to the vigorous support of the international community, including the transit developing countries, and by virtue of their own unremitting efforts, made noticeable progress in their economic and social development. The Secretary-General's report (A/63/165) shows that, for landlocked developing countries, between 2003 and 2006, gross domestic product, foreign direct investment, and official development assistance (ODA) grew by an annual average of 8 per cent, 11.55 per cent and 21.4 per cent, respectively -- higher than the averages for the developing countries as a group in the same period. Those figures clearly prove that the Programme of Action has played an important role in promoting the economic and social development of landlocked developing countries.

What cannot be ignored, however, is the fact that there has not been a fundamental change in those countries' disadvantaged position in the world economic system. Nor has there been a fundamental improvement with respect to their special difficulties, such as inefficient transport, weak infrastructure and high costs of trade. Since 2007 in particular, three intractable problems -- in the fields of finance, energy and food -- erupted onto the scene in quick succession, making the development challenges facing landlocked developing countries more acute and adding to the uncertainty of their development environment.

In 2007, landlocked developing countries accounted for less than 1 per cent of international trade, constituted half of the 20 countries with the lowest human development index, and represented 9 out of the 10 countries with the world's highest per-container cost for import-export trade. What is more, the recent hikes in energy prices have significantly increased the transit transport costs of landlocked developing countries. There is still a long way to go before all objectives contained in the Programme of Action are fully met.

It is the consensus of the international community that landlocked developing countries should be assisted in attaining sustainable development. In the face of the difficulties presented by world economic development, it is of great significance that we are gathered here for the midterm review of the Almaty Programme of Action. We should use this midterm review as an opportunity to systematically assess the implementation of the Programme of Action, comprehensively prioritize our future cooperation, push for the follow-up of relevant commitments and set out to respond to new development challenges. With that in mind, China proposes that the international community focus its attention on the following endeavours.

First, political commitments should be reaffirmed. The Almaty Programme of Action embodies the international community's firm resolve and solemn commitment to help landlocked developing countries and constitutes the specific plan of action and the basic framework of cooperation for that purpose. We must take this as central in furthering the spirit of global partnership, honouring all commitments made under the Programme of Action and comprehensively supporting the sustainable development of those countries.

Secondly, we must actively respond to challenges. The implementation of the Programme of Action should keep pace with the times. The relevant international agencies should systematically assess the impact and repercussions of new development challenges for landlocked and transit developing countries. For its part, the international community should focus on helping those two groups of countries meet such new challenges as climate change, the world economic slowdown, the turbulence in the financial markets and the surge in energy prices.

Thirdly, development assistance should be increased. Development assistance represents a crucial factor in efforts to help landlocked developing countries break out of their development difficulties. The international community, and developed donor countries in particular, should reverse the trend seen in recent years of declining rather than increasing ODA. The commitment to allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross national income (GNI) to ODA should be expeditiously translated into action, effectively increasing the share of ODA dedicated to the financing of infrastructure development and other production sectors. The scale, sustainability and predictability of funding should continue to be increased.

Fourthly, trade preferences should be augmented. Trade is an important engine for the sustainable development of landlocked developing countries. The international community should vigorously push for an early resumption of the World Trade Organization Doha Round of negotiations and an early conclusion of a package agreement that genuinely reflects the theme of development. It should continue to expand trade facilitation and preferences in favour of landlocked developing countries and, through assistance in trade and other measures, support them in building their trade capacity so that they can significantly engage in the international trade system and benefit from it.

Fifthly, cooperation mechanisms should be strengthened. Well-coordinated cooperation mechanisms constitute the institutional guarantee for the successful implementation of the Programme of Action. The international community should continue to strengthen policy coordination and information-sharing, effectively promote regional and subregional economic cooperation, vigorously support public-private cooperation and explore in depth innovative financing mechanisms. Meanwhile, the Office of the High Representative should also continue to promote cooperation and coordination between the relevant international organizations and United Nations agencies.

China is a transit developing country, and parts of its territory have landlocked features. Some of our inland provinces have worse natural conditions than some landlocked countries. China thus has first-hand experience of the special difficulties confronting landlocked developing countries. China has always energetically supported landlocked developing countries in their development efforts, actively promoted and engaged in transit transport cooperation, continuously strengthened support measures in favour of those countries and actively honoured the commitments made under the Programme of Action.

Currently, China contributes more than 10 per cent of world economic growth, with the spillover effects providing a powerful impetus to the economic growth of neighbouring landlocked developing countries. China is active in advancing regional economic cooperation in Central Asia, North-East Asia and the Greater Mekong subregion. That cooperation benefits the landlocked developing countries in Asia. Through mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, we have also continued to increase our support for the landlocked developing countries in Africa. At the United Nations high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals last week, Premier Wen Jiabao announced six concrete measures that we are undertaking to provide assistance within our capacity to fellow developing countries, including landlocked developing countries, in the areas of agricultural development, responding to the food crisis, personnel training, debt relief and cancellation, trade preferences and energy.

China will continue to follow the principles of equitable consultation, mutual interest and benefit and common development, to honour in full and in depth all commitments contained in the Programme of Action and to share development opportunities with landlocked developing countries in a joint effort to meet the challenges of development.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Giadalla A. Ettalhi, chairman of the delegation of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Mr. Ettalhi (Libya)

At the outset, we would like to express our

deep appreciation for the timely holding of this meeting and to congratulate Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session.

The special needs and problems confronting landlocked developing countries have been recognized by the United Nations in the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2), as well as by other relevant international organizations. They include the fact that those countries do not have access to the sea and suffer isolation from international markets, which has a negative impact on their development efforts and constrains their ability to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and on their development efforts in general. That is all well known.

The Almaty Programme of Action aims to confront the challenges faced by landlocked and transit developing countries. The Programme clearly indicates that landlocked status is a challenge, not a destiny, and that international solidarity and cooperation can contribute to overcoming those difficulties and challenges. Many transit developing countries that are neighbours of landlocked developing countries bear additional burdens as a result of transit transport requirements and their need to build and strengthen the infrastructure for roads, maintenance and service programmes as well as to develop the human resources and administrative and financial systems needed for those facilities.

Therefore, the formation, strengthening and maintenance of an effective transit system pose a great challenge to landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and to other developing countries as well. This is what my country, Libya, is facing.

The costs entailed are often greater than the financial capabilities of those countries and there is no doubt that development partners can support and bolster those countries' efforts to create effective means and systems of transit transport and develop the required human resources and capabilities. We affirm that regional cooperation can play an important role in resolving the problems encountered in transit transport, making it easier and less costly by allowing for the pooling of resources and capabilities, and by coordinating and removing obstacles to cross-border passage and by guaranteeing that products have access to nearby and overseas markets. It is gratifying that the development of basic infrastructure for transit transport is one of the national concerns of African countries. It is also among the strategic priorities of development. We support the policies and initiatives made by the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa's Development and regional economic groupings in the African continent, all of which aim to bolster the efforts of those countries and strengthen regional cooperation among them.

We confirm the need to establish and bolster effective systems for transit transport in Africa by forging effective partnerships between LLDCs and transit developing countries within the framework of regional integration. We call upon international and regional financial institutions to offer more financial and technical aid. This aid should be coordinated to develop the infrastructure of transit transport and to focus on bridging the gaps that remain in ground transport networks so as to connect landlocked countries to the rest of the African countries and give priority to the basic infrastructure needs within the framework of assistance for trade. Additionally, overseas development assistance funds allocated to building these structures should be increased.

In view of its belief in the need for African integration, Libya supports policies and initiatives that aim to connect African countries through roads and networks, as these are fundamental to the development and advancement of the productive and service sectors in landlocked countries. Additionally, they would activate trade exchange with the rest of the countries in the continent, on one hand, and trade between those countries and international markets, on the other.

Moreover, my country has undertaken a large project called the Al-Qadhafi Highway. Here, my country is working on building desert roads to landlocked countries on two axes, one in eastern Libya and one in the west of the country. We are currently devoting great efforts to implement this large project. Such efforts contribute to providing opportunities for economic and social stability. This will reduce the reasons for illegal immigration and lessen the resulting economic, social and security repercussions and risks.

In closing, my country confirms the need to support and bolster efforts made by the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, which aim to mobilize the necessary support and help implement the Almaty Programme of Action. This is also considered one of the main areas of cooperation among the countries of the South because most landlocked countries and transit countries are developing countries as well. Based on this, a successful programme of action will increase transactions among the countries of the South and will achieve the economic integration that serves the interests of all.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Peter Maurer, chairman of the delegation of the Swiss Confederation.

Mr. Maurer (Switzerland)

Geography may be a challenge, but it is not destiny. Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face specific hurdles in their development that countries bordering on the sea do not. But those hurdles can be addressed, as we are doing successfully with the Almaty Declaration and Programme of Action. The Declaration and the Programme have contributed significantly to putting the special needs of LLDCs on the political agenda. This midterm review provides us with a welcome opportunity to take stock of the progress made, to analyse existing gaps and to identify the action needed to fill these gaps. The excellent report prepared by the Secretary-General and his collaborators provides a number of insights worthy of our attention.

Allow me to focus on just a few of them. First, in Almaty we underestimated the spill-over effects produced by the spectacular growth of emerging economic powerhouses. Their markets provide at least some landlocked countries with a regional alternative or complement to overseas markets. The negative effects of high transportation costs and dependence on a functioning transit corridor can be significantly reduced when these strong performers are in the immediate neighbourhood of LLDCs. The increasing sophistication of these emerging economies should also contribute, in the medium term, to nurture the diversification of the export structure of countries in the region and hence, to reduce the dependence of many LLDCs on highly volatile commodity prices.

Furthermore, it is our hope that the high export earnings of emerging markets will provide the LLDCs with additional investment capital, thus facilitating the regional integration also at the level of capital markets. The special needs of landlocked developing countries and the further strengthening of South-South trade are issues that need to be tackled in parallel. While continuous support by all development partners to LLDCs is crucial, strong leadership by the emerging economies willing and ready to shoulder their part of the responsibility for international economic stability and prosperity is also called for.

Secondly, we have to re-emphasize the importance of freedom of transit. In the context of the ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on trade facilitation, Switzerland and a number of LLDCs have jointly submitted a textual proposal on the clarification and improvement of Article V of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The proposal not only seeks to strengthen freedom of transit and to create discipline with regard to transit fees and charges, but also attempts to curb the discriminating effects that regional or bilateral transit agreements may have on transit, including by tackling quota systems. Ambitious wording on transit in a future WTO agreement on trade facilitation is not enough in and of itself, but it sets the stage for a much larger host of concrete trade facilitation measures all along the supply chains so as to truly establish viable, predictable and reasonably economical transit routes.

Thirdly, the Almaty Programme of Action has helped to coalesce a wide range of countries facing similar concerns under one heading -- the landlocked developing countries. At the same time, transit countries and development partners have joined the process in the spirit of partnership. Yet, while the Programme has been firmly established and recognized, further progress is needed. The priorities and needs of landlocked developing countries have become further differentiated. Their starting points, comparative advantages, economic policies and transport infrastructures are developing over time in response to both world market and stronger regional integration.

It is therefore important that international organizations, such as the World Bank and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, continue to work towards common and reliable indicators and monitoring. Reliable targets and indicators help ensure that limited resources are put to use where they are most needed in each single case. By providing an objective basis of work, they also facilitate crucial bilateral and regional cooperation on transit and other trade-related facilitation issues.

Geography can indeed be a challenge, but geography is no destiny. Switzerland, a landlocked country itself, remains deeply committed to assisting landlocked developing countries to better integrate themselves into world markets.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the speaker from Ethiopia.

Mr. Alemu (Ethiopia)

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