A/RES/60/215 International Partnerships, and welcoming the establishment of a multitude of partnerships at the field level, entered into by various United Nations agencies, nonpublic partners and Member States, such as the United Nations Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development, Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on enhanced cooperation 1. between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector; 5 2. Stresses that partnerships are voluntary and collaborative relationships between various parties, both public and non-public, in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and, as mutually agreed, to share risks and responsibilities, resources and benefits; Also stresses the importance of the contribution of voluntary partnerships 3. to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, while reiterating that they are a complement to, but not intended to substitute for, the commitments made by Governments with a view to achieving these goals; Further stresses that partnerships should be consistent with national laws 4. and national development strategies and plans, as well as the priorities of countries where their implementation takes place, bearing in mind the relevant guidance provided by Governments; Recalls that the 2005 World Summit welcomed the positive contributions 5. of the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion and implementation of development and human rights programmes and also welcomed the dialogue between those organizations and Member States, as reflected in the first informal interactive hearings of the General Assembly with representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector; Also recalls that the 2005 World Summit resolved to enhance the 6. contribution of non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as well as in the promotion of the global partnership for development, and encouraged public-private partnerships in the following areas: the generation of new investments and employment, financing for development, health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of climate change; Encourages the United Nations system to continue to develop, for those 7. partnerships in which it participates, a common and systemic approach which places greater emphasis on impact, transparency, accountability and sustainability, without imposing undue rigidity in partnership agreements, and with due consideration being given to the following partnership principles: common purpose, transparency, bestowing no unfair advantages upon any partner of the United Nations, mutual benefit and mutual respect, accountability, respect for the modalities of the United Nations, striving for balanced representation of relevant partners from developed and developing countries and countries with economies in transition, sectoral and geographic balance, and not compromising the independence and neutrality of the United Nations system in general and the agencies in particular; _______________ 5 A/60/214. 3