A/RES/55/212 accentuation of the income and technological gap between developed and developing countries, as well as within countries, Recognizing that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy, development and the improvement of living standards around the world, and recognizing also that some countries have made progress in successfully adapting to the changes and have benefited from globalization, Recognizing also the importance of appropriate policy responses at the national level by all countries to the challenges of globalization, in particular by pursuing sound macroeconomic and social policies, noting the need for support from the international community for the efforts of the least developed countries, in particular, to improve their institutional and management capacities, and recognizing further that all countries should pursue policies conducive to economic growth and to promoting a favourable global economic environment, Stressing that such national macroeconomic and social policies can yield better results with international support and with an enabling international economic environment, Emphasizing the need to address those imbalances and asymmetries in international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have a negative impact on development prospects for developing countries, with a view to minimizing those impacts, Noting with serious concern that a large number of developing countries have not yet been able to reap the full benefits of the existing multilateral trading system, and underlining the importance of promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy so as to enable them to take the fullest possible advantage of the trading opportunities arising from globalization and liberalization, Stressing that the process of reform for a strengthened and stable international financial architecture should be based on broad participation in a genuine multilateral approach, involving all members of the international community, to ensure that the diverse needs and interests of all countries are adequately represented, Underlining the urgent need to mitigate the negative consequences of globalization and interdependence for all developing countries, including landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and, in particular, African countries and the least developed countries, Reiterating that the United Nations, as a universal forum, is in a unique position to achieve international cooperation in addressing the challenges of promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, including, in particular, promoting a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalization, 1. Reaffirms that the United Nations has a central role in promoting international cooperation for development and in promoting policy coherence on global development issues, including in the context of globalization and interdependence; 2