A/RES/53/16 Page 3 6. Welcomes with appreciation the increased cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the field of peacemaking and preventive diplomacy and takes note of the close cooperation between the two organizations in the search for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Afghanistan; 7. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and their ongoing consultations with a view to further developing the modalities of such cooperation; 8. Welcomes also the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 9. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, particularly by negotiating cooperation agreements, and invites them to multiply the contacts and meetings of the focal points for cooperation in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 10. Urges the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to provide increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions in order to enhance cooperation; 11. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, cultural and humanitarian fields; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fourth session the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference”. 48th plenary meeting 29 October 1998