48/1.
Declaration on enhancing regional economic cooperation
The Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific,
Noting the rapid
economic and political changes taking place in the world, which could provide
opportunities for and constitute challenges to economic growth and development,
globally as well as in the ESCAP region,
Stressing the importance of a successful conclusion to the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, and the need for an open world trading system to underpin regional efforts,
Noting with satisfaction the development of a resilient and buoyant economy in the ESCAP region and growing interlinkages among its members and associate members in the context of regional stability and improved political relations,
Recognizing the need to utilize existing subregional organizations in the region fully, with a view to fostering appropriate cooperation and interaction between them to enhance economic and social progress in the region,
Noting the continually
remarkable growth and trade expansion of the ESCAP region as a whole, but
recognizing with concern that such performance has not been shared by all
the economies of the region, particularly the least developed, land-locked
and Pacific island economies,
Realizing that
these developments have emphasized the common interests of the ESCAP members
and associate members and strengthened their political will to foster closer
economic ties, which in turn will contribute to regional development and
prosperity,
Convinced of the
need for and prospects of sustained and enhanced regional economic cooperation,
Recalling, inter alia,
the declaration made at the seventh session of the Commission held at Lahore
in 1951, the Tokyo Declaration made at the thirteenth session in 1967,
the Seoul Declaration made at the forty-seventh session in 1991, and other
relevant instruments of the Commission which provide policy direction for
strengthening regional economic cooperation in Asia and the Pacific,
1. Resolves to enhance economic
cooperation in the ESCAP region;
2. Resolves also to impart
new impetus to economic cooperation in the region, based on the following
guiding principles:
(a) To ensure the sustained growth
and development of the region for the good of all its people, thus contributing
to the growth and development of the world economy;
(b) To promote economic cooperation
on the basis of equality and mutual benefit;
(c) To reaffirm the commitment
of ESCAP members and associate members to an open world trading system,
as well as to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system in line
with the articles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade;
(d) To take fully into account
the diversity of the region, particularly in stages of economic development
and socio-political systems, and to give due consideration to the special
needs of developing members and associate members;
(e) To follow the principles of equality and consensus-building in consultations and dialogue;
3. Urges strongly that promotion of intraregional trade and investment, and greater cooperation in science and technology and in the development of infrastructure, should receive high priority in economic cooperation in Asia and the Pacific and in the Commission's deliberations;
4. Welcomes the setting up
of the thematic Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation in the context
of the revision of the intergovernmental subsidiary structure of the Commission;
5. Directs the Committee
for Regional Economic Cooperation to begin work expeditiously by examining
trends and developments in the region, and to focus initially on one or
two of the priorities mentioned in paragraph 3 above with a view to developing
concrete measures for enhancing regional cooperation;
6. Calls upon all members to give full and active support to the principles and objectives set forth in the present resolution, which shall be known as the Beijing Declaration on Regional Economic Cooperation;
7. Requests the Executive
Secretary to take the Beijing Declaration into full account in formulating
the programme of work and priorities and report to the Commission on an
annual basis, beginning with the forty-ninth session.
48/2.
Restructuring the conference structure of the Commission
The Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific,
Recalling its
resolutions 143 (XXX) of 5 April 1974, 210 (XXXVI) of 29 March 1980, 262
(XLIII) of 30 April 1987, and 47/3 of 10 April 1991 on the conference structure
of the Commission,
Recalling also
General Assembly resolution 32/197 of 20 December 1977, in which the regional
commissions were designated as the main general economic and social development
centres within the United Nations system for their respective regions and
directed to exercise team leadership and responsibility for coordination
at the regional level, resolution 33/202 of 29 January 1979, in which it
was decided that the regional commissions should have the status of executing
agencies in their own right, and resolution 34/206 of 19 December 1979,
on the implementation of resolution 32/197,
Reaffirming that
the complexity of the development problems faced by the developing countries
increasingly demands that these problems be tackled in a comprehensive
manner through interdisciplinary and intersectoral action, and therefore
reaffirming its endorsement, in general, at its forty-seventh session,
of the recommendation of the Group of Eminent Persons on Intergovernmental
Structure Subsidiary to the Commission relating to the progressive reorganization
of the work of the Commission on a thematic basis,
Recognizing that
a reoriented and more effective subsidiary structure would be able to respond
better to the changing needs of the members and associate members in the
light of emerging economic and social development in the region and the
changing scope of regional cooperation, as well as to utilize fully the
multidisciplinary advantage of the Commission and its increased capability
in technical assistance activities,
Having considered
the recommendations of the Meeting of Senior Officials on the Intergovernmental
Structure Subsidiary to the Commission, held at Bangkok from 13 to 17 January
1992, as well as those of the Intergovernmental Meeting on Regional Economic
Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific, held at Beijing from 10 to 16 December
1991,
1. Decides to revise the
conference structure and frequency of meetings to conform to the following
pattern:
(1) The Commission
The Commission shall meet annually
for up to eight working days at the ministerial level to discuss and decide
upon important issues concerning economic and social development in the
region, to decide upon the recommendations of its subsidiary bodies and
of the Executive Secretary, to examine and approve the programme of work
and priorities and to take any other decisions required, in conformity
with its terms of reference.
(2) Subsidiary structure
A. The following committees and
special bodies shall be established and meet at the intervals indicated
below:
| Thematic committees | Periodicity |
| Regional economic cooperation | Annual, immediately preceding the Com-mission session, with the exception of its first session in 1992 |
| Steering group of
the committee for regional economic
cooperation |
Twice a year, or as often as required, starting in 1992 |
| Environment and sustainable development | Annual, starting in 1993 |
| Poverty alleviation through economic growth and social development | Annual, starting in 1993 |
| Other committees | |
| Statistics | Biennial, starting in 1992 |
| Transport and communications | Biennial, starting in 1993 |
| Special bodies | |
| Least developed and land-locked developing countries | Biennial, starting in 1993 |
| Pacific island developing countries | Annual, 1993-1995, thereafter biennial |
(a) Subject to the approval of the
Commission, ad hoc ministerial conferences may be organized on specific
issues. Normally, no more than one such conference may be organized during
a year;
(b) In those years when a ministerial
conference is held which is regarded as covering issues normally discussed
in a corresponding committee or specialbody, that committee or special
body shall not be convened.
(4) Ad hoc intergovernmental
meetings
(a) Ad hoc intergovernmental meetings
may be convened with the prior approval of the Commission, to carry out
a detailed examination of substantive and priority issues;
(b) No more than fifteen such inter-governmental
meetings may be held during acalendar year for a maximum of one hundred
calendar days.
(5) Advisory Committee
of Permanent Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by Members
of the Commission
The functions of the Advisory Committee
of Permanent Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by Members
of the Commission shall be strengthened in accordance with the terms of
reference contained in annex II to the present resolution.
(6) Existing bodies under the
auspices of the Commission
The following existing bodies under theauspices of the Commission shall function asprescribed in the respective statutes and terms of reference:
(i) Asian and Pacific Centre for
Transfer of Technology
(ii) Regional Coordination Centre
for Research and Development of Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber
Crops in the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific
(iii) Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific
(7) General provisions
(a) Functions
The functions of the committees
and special bodies are specified in their respective terms of reference
in annexes III-IX to the present resolution. Committees should select priority
issues and focus on well-defined problems in order to show tangible results
during the committees' tenure.
(b) Duration of meetings
Meetings of all committees shall
last for no more than five working days.
(c) Rules of procedure
Unless otherwise specified by the Commission, the rules of procedure of the Commission, including those pertaining to the decision-making process, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the committees and special bodies.
(8) Other provisions
The other provisions shall include
the following:
(a) In view of the establishment
of the Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries,
the existing Special Body on Land-locked Countries shall be deleted from
the conferencestructure;
(b) The existing provision for
convening ad hoc conferences shall be deleted from the conference structure;
2. Invites the Executive
Secretary, under the direction of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
and in conformity with the goal of maximizing the impact of the United
Nations in the field of economic and social development, to reorganize
the secretariat so as to enhance its capability to service the thematic
intergovernmental structure subsidiary to the Commission and implement
its revised programme of work under the framework of the revised medium-term
plan for the period 1992-1997;
3. Requests the Executive
Secretary to forward, within the next three months, his assessment of the
organizational, staffing and financial implications of the revision of
the intergovernmental structure subsidiary to the Commission to the seats
of Governments of members and associate members, through the Advisory Committee
of Permanent Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by Members
of the Commission, for their consideration and decision;
4. Requests the Executive Secretary to report to the Commission at its fiftieth session on the implementation of the present resolution;
5. Decides to review the
conference structure of the Commission, including its thematic priorities
and its subsidiary structure, no later than at the fifty-third session
of the Commission.
The Advisory Committee of Permanent
Representatives and Other Representatives Designated by Members of the
Commission shall have the following functions:
1. To maintain close cooperation and consultation between the members and the secretariat of the Commission.
2. To advise and assist the Executive Secretary in drawing up proposals for the medium-term plan, programme budget and priorities, consistent with the guidelines provided by the Commission.
3. To receive on a regular basis information on the administrative and financial functioning of ESCAP, and to assist and advise the Executive Secretary in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the ESCAP programme of work.
4. To review the draft calendar
of meetings, prior to its submission to the Commission session.
5. To exchange views with the Executive
Secretary on the provisional agenda for each session of the Commission,
bearing in mind chapter II of its rules of procedure.
6. To assist the secretariat in the formulation of the annotated provisional agenda for each session of the Commission before it is finalized.
7. To monitor the functioning of
the thematic approach and the implementation of activities under it, in
order to provide an assessment of the thematic approach and to suggest
to the Commission at the appropriate time potential modifications to or
changes of the themes.
8. To carry out any other tasks
to be entrusted to it by the Commission.
In order to sustain and extend the scope of the current dynamism of the economies in the Asian and Pacific region by strengthening their growing interdependence and complementarities, there is an urgent need to enhance economic cooperation in the region. Given the imperative of such enhanced regional economic cooperation for harnessing the potential that exists in the region, the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, under the overall supervision of the Commission, shall perform the following functions:
1. Serve as a mobilizer of ideas,
a forum for policy-oriented discussion, and a catalyst for action to promote
regional economic cooperation.
2. Review periodically:
(a) The impact on the economies
of the Asian and Pacific region of global economic interdependence in such
areas as trade, financial and investment flows, technological progress
and industrial growth;
(b) The future economic outlook
of the region and the structural adjustments needed to strengthen the economies
of the region.
3. Initiate policy-oriented studies on regional economic cooperation which, after review by the Committee or its Steering Group, should be disseminated widely in the region.
4. Identify potential areas for regional economic cooperation, recommend appropriate policy options and assist the regional members and associate members of the Commission in implementing measures to achieve such cooperation by encouraging, facilitating and sponsoring consultations through the establishment of working groups, including expert and technical groups and other appropriate arrangements.
5. Develop a close relationship with relevant subregional organizations, promote the interchange of information on their activities and studies on issues relating to regional economic cooperation, and encourage linkages among them.
6. Devise ways and means of establishing dialogue with development agencies and financial institutions, private sector organi-zations, non-governmental organizations, and donor countries, within and outside the region, in its initiatives and activities to promote regional economic cooperation.
7. Work closely with other subsidiary organs of the Commission and coordinate its activities with them.
8. Carry out such other activities
as the Commission may direct from time to time in matters relating to regional
economic cooperation.
The Committee shall be composed of all members and associate members of the Commission.
The Committee shall have a high-level steering group drawn from regional members and associate members on a voluntary basis.
The Committee shall meet once a
year, preferably immediately before the Commission session. The steering
group shall meet twice a year or as often as required.
In view of the continuing environmental degradation in the Asian and Pacific region, mindful of the need to integrate environmental considerations with development objectives, and with a view to ensuring the judicious management of energy and other natural resources for preserving and promoting the conditions necessary for sustainable development, the Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development shall perform the following functions:
1. Review and assess the state of the environment in the region within the context of sustainable development.
2. Review and analyse progress in the development and management of energy and natural resources, keeping in view the need for ensuring sustainable development, and make recommendations on strategies, policies, methods and techniques for the proper investigation, development, utilization and management of energy and natural resources.
3. Identify priority issues in the sustainable development of energy and natural resources, examine the environmental impact of the development and utilization of energy and other natural resources and recommend appropriate strategies and policies to minimize any adverse impact.
4. Assist interested members and associate members in undertaking comprehensive national assessment of risks from natural hazards and taking such assessment into account in their development plans.
5. Undertake surveys and studies for enhancing the understanding of the interrelationship between environmental factors and the development process.
6. Identify and highlight the major environmental processes and concerns with a view to promoting policies and strategies for sustainable development in the region.
7. Promote understanding of the
relationship between the environment and poverty and encourage the adoption
of environmental strategies which pay due regard to the problems of the
poorest sections of the population.
8. Encourage the integration of
environ-mental concerns into development policies, plans and programmes
at both the macroeconomic and sectoral levels, emphasizing particularly
the problems of the least developed and island developing countries.
9. Encourage the setting of standards and the introduction of legal frameworks for managing natural resources as well as ensuring environmental safeguards in manufacturing, product development and trade.
10. Promote environmental awareness at all levels.
11. Promote regional and subregional cooperation in the fields of environmental protection, and sustainable development of energy and natural resources, taking into account the diversity of national situations in the ESCAP region.
12. Articulate the region's response to relevant international initiatives to ensure that such initiatives do not constrain the sustainable development of the region, taking into account the need to improve the international economic environment.
13. Review regional activities in the field of the environment and sustainable development, make recommendations on the formulation and implementation of the programme of work of the secretariat, and monitor and evaluate the progress of those activities.
14. Encourage the establishment
of appro-priate mechanisms at the national, regional and global levels
to ensure sustainable development through environmental protection and
the judicious management of energy and natural resources.
15. Establish liaison with other
agencies, organizations and bodies at the subregional, regional and global
levels and take into account their relevant recommendations.
16. Work closely with other subsidiary organs of the Commission and coordinate activities with them.
17. Carry out such other activities as the Commission may direct from time to time.
The Committee shall meet annually
and report to the Commission.
Notwithstanding the impressive
record of economic growth achieved by the developing economies in the ESCAP
region, the region still contains the majority of the world's poor. This
situation underscores the fact that rapid growth, by itself, does not guarantee
the elimination of or significant reduction in poverty. Therefore, a holistic
approach to economic growth inclusive of social development, with poverty
alleviation as its major focus, is needed in the region. With a view to
articulating such an approach and helping the achievement of a significant
degree of poverty alleviation in the region in the 1990s, the Committee
on Poverty Alleviation through Economic Growth and Social Development shall
perform the following functions:
1. Review the current trends in economic and social strategies in the region to ensure that, while the region continues to make advances in economic growth, the alleviation of poverty receives high priority in the national policies and programmes for the achievement of economic growth and social development.
2. Encourage the formulation and implementation of macroeconomic policies and sectoral and intersectoral programmes targeted at the alleviation of poverty, with a focus on vulnerable social groups and such specific groups as isolated rural communities, slum dwellers, the rural landless, and the unemployed.
3. Review and analyse progress in the improvement of policies and programmes for enhancing agricultural growth and rural development, and in particular consider appropriate measures to promote agricultural and rural development with a view to improving the conditions of the rural poor.
4. Consider means whereby poverty alleviation strategies and policies may be effectively formulated and implemented through the participation of the poor.
5. Consider and make recommendations on issues and programmes relating to population, as well as the related issues of social security and social services, to ensure development commensurate with the development objectives of all members and associate members of the Commission.
6. Consider appropriate measures whereby basic human needs, particularly food and nutrition, health care, education and shelter, can be met through decentralization and devolution of authority, and the participation of non-governmental organizations and the private sector.
7. Review progress in the integration of women in all aspects of development, and promote the intensification of efforts at the national and regional levels to integrate women into the development process.
8. Undertake periodic review of rural and urban poverty, including its interaction with economic growth, population dynamics, the urbanization process and environmental factors, and suggest development policy towards substantial progress in the alleviation of poverty.
9. Consider and make recommendations
on the intersectoral approach in the work programme of the Commission to
ensure that concerns relating to poverty alleviation through economic growth
and social development are adequately reflected in all activities and programmes
undertaken by the secretariat.
10. Establish liaison with other
agencies, organizations and bodies at the subregional, regional and global
levels, and take into account their relevant recommendations.
11. Work closely with other subsidiary organs of the Commission and coordinate activities with them.
12. Carry out such other activities as the Commission may direct from time to time.
The Committee shall meet annually
and report to the Commission.
The Committee on Statistics shall
perform the following functions:
1. Review and analyse progress
in the development of statistics in the region.
2. Assist in the strengthening
of the statistical infrastructure in the countries of the region, promote
the improvement of the quality of statistics, the international comparability
of data and the application of new techniques, and arrange for the exchange
of information on and experience in statistical work and methods among
the countries.
3. Promote the adoption of international
statistical standards and their adaptation, as appropriate, to the conditions
and needs of the countries of the region.
4. Promote close coordination of
the statistical activities of international organizations in regard to
their work in the Asian and Pacific region, so as to achieve greater uniformity
in concepts and definitions and reduce to a minimum the burden on national
statistical offices.
5. Promote the generation and analysis of statistical data relevant to regional economic cooperation, such as intraregional trade and investment flows in the region.
6. Encourage, with due regard to
relevant international work, efforts to develop a set of standardized statistical
indicators for the region and, where necessary, a measurement methodology
for assessing:
(a) The quality of life;
(b) The quality of the environment;
(c) The application of science and technology to development.
7. Recommend programmes of technical
assistance, training, education and research in the various fields of statistics
and their application.
8. Review and analyse progress
in the development of computerized information processing in the region,
especially in the public sector, and make recommendations on issues concerning
policies and strategies, as well as on programmes of technical assistance,
training and research in this field.
9. Review and evaluate the activities
of the secretariat in the areas of statistics and computerized information
processing and provide guidance on the work of the secretariat, paying
due regard to the recommendations of the United Nations Statistical Commission
and other relevant bodies.
10. Make recommendations to the
Advisory Council of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific
on the nature of and priorities in statistical training for the countries
of the region.
11. Inform the United Nations Statistical
Commission and, where appropriate, the statistical authorities of the specialized
agencies and other relevant bodies, of its work, so that due attention
may be given to the wider aspects of the issues considered by the Committee.
12. Work closely with other subsidiary organs of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and coordinate activities with them.
13. Carry out such other activities
as the Commission may direct from time to time.
The Committee shall meet once every
two years and report to the Commission.
The Committee on Transport and Communi-cations shall perform the following functions:
1. Review and analyse issues, policies and progress in the areas of transport, communications and tourism and advise on the major requirements in these fields, with a view to ensuring that transport and communications infrastructural facilities and services are raised to a level commensurate with the development objectives and priorities of developing members and associate members of the Commission in the region.
2. Encourage the promotion of transport and communications facilities in remote areas of the region, paying special attention to those of the least developed, land-locked and Pacific island developing countries, with a view to alleviating poverty and reducing intraregional disparities in the opportunities for development. The Committee will coordinate its activities with the Committee on Poverty Alleviation through Economic Growth and Social Development and with the Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries and the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries.
3. Promote the creation of and improvement in regional infrastructure facilities and services and border facilitation in the fields of transport and communications, with a view to strengthening regional economic cooperation among the countries of the region. The Committee will work closely with the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation.
4. Recommend measures to address
problems of environmental degradation, such as the pollution and deterioration
of coastlines and the atmosphere, arising generally from the development
of transport and communications infrastructure and particularly from the
design, choice of technology, maintenance and operation of various transport
vehicles. The Committee will work closely with the Committee on the Environment
and Sustainable Development.
5. Review and undertake policy-oriented
studies on current and emerging developments and trends in the fields of
transport and communications, as well as on technical innovations and policy-induced
changes in those fields; and make recommendations on technical assistance
programmes of the Commission.
6. Promote the exchange of experience
and techniques in the fields of planning, operation, management, safety
and manpower development of transport and communications.
7. Promote tourism at the regional,
subregional and national levels, in particular through the development
of related infrastructure and human resources, and take steps, in close
cooperation with the relevant committees, to minimize the adverse impact
of tourism on the social and physical environment.
8. Review and evaluate progress
in the implementation of the regional action programme for the second quinquennium
of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, and
provide guidance on the lead or coordinating agency function of ESCAP for
the regional action programme on transport and communications, the implementation
of the ESCAP input to the regional action programme, and coordination and
cooperation with other regional commissions, in particular the Economic
and Social Commission for Western Asia, in relation to their transport
and communications programmes.
9. Promote coordination and cooperation
between ESCAP and other regional commissions, international agencies, and
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as existing
subregional groupings, in their activities on transport and communications
issues at the regional level, particularly where these relate to the regional
action programme for the second quinquennium of the Decade.
10. Work closely with other subsidiary
organs of the Commission and coordinate activities with them.
11. Carry out such other activities
as the Commission may direct from time to time.
The Committee shall meet once every
two years and report to the Commission.
In order to help accelerate the pace of development in the least developed and land-locked developing countries within the context of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s and the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, the Special Body on Least Developed and Land-locked Developing Countries shall perform the following functions:
1. Review and monitor economic and
social progress in the least developed countries, particularly within the
context of the implementation, at the regional level, of the Programme
of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s, and identify
and recommend new policy measures as and when necessary.
2. Foster new and strengthen existing
intercountry cooperation arrangements between the least developed countries
and other developing countries, including the organization of cluster meetings
as suggested in the Programme of Action.
3. Undertake periodic analysis and
ensure regular dissemination of information on the macroeconomic performance
of the least developed countries of the region.
4. Undertake in-depth reviews of
economic, social and environmental constraints on the least developed countries,
and identify and recommend effective policy action at the national, regional
and international levels for the removal of such constraints, in particular
with regard to measures for increased mobilization of domestic and foreign
resources, which should receive the continued attention of the Special
Body.
5. Assist the least developed countries
in the formulation of appropriate sectoral development strategies, policies
and programmes paying due attention to the diverse development circumstances
and constraints facing the least developed countries.
6. Convene expert groups, seminars
and training courses on subjects of special interest to the least developed
countries, as appropriate.
7. Coordinate the secretariat's programme on least developed countries in order to ensure effective implementation of the Programme of Action in the region.
8. Review the special problems of transit trade and of transport in land-locked countries and recommend suitable measures for solving these problems in accordance with international legal instruments, in particular article 125 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
9. Encourage, through all its activities,
the land-locked developing countries and their transit neighbours to deal
with the transit problems within the context of bilateral cooperation.
10. Initiate studies on such subjects
as may be required in relation to the special problems of the land-locked
countries of the region.
11. Organize expert groups, seminars
and training courses on subjects of specific interest to the land-locked
and the transit countries concerned, such as customs administration and
procedures, inland transport, port facilities, shipping, and ocean freight
rates.
12. Arrange for technical and financial
assistance from national, regional and international financial institutions
for the purpose of improving transit and transport facilities for the land-locked
countries.
13. Establish liaison with other
agencies, organizations and bodies at the subregional, regional and global
levels, and take into account their relevant recommendations.
14. Work closely with other subsidiary
organs of the Commission and coordinate activities with them.
15. Carry out such other activities
as the Commission may direct from time to time.
The Special Body shall meet once
every two years and report to the Commission.
In order to ensure the participation of the Pacific island developing countries in the mainstream of the economic dynamism of the ESCAP region and to assist them in overcoming their special problems of isolation, small size and vulnerability to environmental hazards, and taking into account the work of other organizations and agencies functioning in the area, the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries shall perform the following functions:
1. Review and assess progress in
the development of the subregion, and assist in the formulation of social
and economic development strategies, policies and programmes.
2. Examine special development
problems in the subregion, particularly those faced by the least developed
or smaller island economies, and identify appropriate domestic policies
and possible avenues and modalities of external economic and technical
assistance to solve or alleviate those problems.
3. Review and make recommendations
for policy-oriented research and action on macroeconomic and sectoral development
issues in the light of the special constraints being faced by the Pacific
island developing countries.
4. Give special attention to overcoming the development constraints faced by the Pacific island countries by fostering and strengthening economic and technical cooperation among the countries and areas of the subregion, and between the subregion and other ESCAP members and associate members.
5. Identify technical assistance and other activities to be implemented for the benefit of the subregion.
6. Establish liaison with other agencies, organizations and bodies at the subregional, regional and global levels and take into account their relevant recommendations.
7. Work closely with other subsidiary
organs of the Commission and coordinate activities with them.
8. Carry out such other activities
as the Commission may direct from time to time.
The Special Body shall meet once
every two years and report to the Commission.