Development cooperation with middle-income countries A/RES/74/231 infrastructure and labour force displacement, and that a number of middle -income countries have sizeable sectors that are exposed to climate change, such as agriculture, construction, mining, tourism and transport, Reaffirming that achieving gender equality, empowering all women and girls, and the full realization of their human rights are essential to achieving sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development, and in that regard reiterating the need for gender mainstreaming, including targeted actions and investments in the formulation and implementation of all financial, economic, environmental and social policies, Noting with concern that the debt service of middle-income countries has increased since 2011, reaching more than 14 per cent of total exports and primary income, Recognizing with concern that total external debt stocks in middle-income countries, excluding small island developing States, grew by 8 per cent per annum over the period from 2009 to 2018, total external debt has grown by over 20 per cent since 2016 and the current debt represents 26.8 per cent of their combined gross domestic product, and that the debt of middle-income countries is not only growing at a faster pace than anticipated, but is a more costly debt with a shorter maturity, Reiterating the pledge that no one will be left behind, reaffirming the recognition that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, and the wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society, and recommitting to endeavour to reach the furthest behind first, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 6 2. Acknowledges the efforts made and successes achieved by many middle income countries in eradicating poverty and achieving the internationally agreed development goals, as well as their significant contribution to global and regional development and economic stability; 3. Also acknowledges that identifying structural gaps can improve the understanding of development needs of developing countries, including middle income countries; 4. Underlines that, for many middle-income countries, official development assistance, including financing on concessional terms from different multilateral financial institutions, remains important; 5. Also underlines the need for sustained efforts towards achieving debt sustainability in middle-income countries in order to avoid a debt crisis, and the importance of debt restructurings being timely, orderly, effective, fair and negotiated in good faith; 6. Recognizes that, with 73 per cent of the world’s poor population concentrated in middle-income countries, development cooperation, policy dialogue and partnerships with those countries can contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and targets; 7. Welcomes the solidarity of middle-income countries with other developing countries, in particular the financial, technical, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and capacity-building support being provided by middle-income countries, particularly to the least developed countries, through South-South and triangular cooperation, while stressing that South-South cooperation is a complement __________________ 6 19-22503 A/74/269. 5/7