47. An encouraging development in recent years has been the almost universal pursuit of increased economic openness and integration. This has contributed to a growing economic and social interdependence among countries. It is a common responsibility and in the common interest to ensure that these trends continue and also to ensure that all countries benefit from them. The last point is fundamental: the benefits attributable to these various changes have been widespread, but they have been neither universal nor achieved without costs. A primary objective of the implementation of this Agenda should be to contribute in such a way that the benefits stemming from future growth and development are distributed equitably among all countries and peoples.

48. Achieving and maintaining an international environment favourable to all countries is in the interest of all countries. Global economic, environmental and social issues can be approached effectively only through a constructive dialogue and genuine partnership among all countries. This requires a recognition not only of the mutuality of interests and benefits but also of common, though differentiated, responsibilities. This mutual understanding has permeated the ongoing sequence of United Nations world conferences and summits.

49. However, some of the commitments and agreements for development, including those referring to international development cooperation, resulting from these conferences and summits, as well as from previous international undertakings, remain to be fulfilled. These commitments, as well as the new and additional priority actions identified here, should be implemented in the spirit of solidarity and partnership. In this context, efforts should be made to mobilize public support for development cooperation, inter alia, through a strategy based on partnership between developed and developing countries, which incorporates, as appropriate, mutually agreed goals for development.