UNCTAD calls for true partnership'

By P. S. Suryanarayana

BANGKOK, FEB. 19. The tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which concluded in Bangkok this evening, called for a ``true partnership'' among the countries on both sides of the development divide as a prerequisite for global peace and security. A commitment to a ``fair, equitable and rules-based multilateral trading system'' was also outlined.

Summing up the outcome of the session, the President of UNCTAD-X, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, said the ``viability'' of the multilateral trading process had been vindicated in the shadow of the recent Seattle conference which ``traumatised'' the international community even as it failed to launch a new round of global trade parleys. The ``compatibility'' of the UNCTAD with the World Trade Organisation was also in evidence, he told the closing plenary, and urged the two to work for a ``development round''.

The UNCTAD deliberations here had resulted in some momentum for giving a development dimension to the proposed new global trade talks. Dr. Supachai expressed the hope, too, that the two organisations could indeed work as ``partners'' on the global trade agenda.

The Bangkok Declaration, adopted by the UNCTAD conference's closing plenary here, redefined globalisation as ``a powerful and dynamic force for growth and development.''

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