A/RES/57/141 Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Welcoming the outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, 3 Recalling the essential role of international cooperation and coordination in promoting the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, and recalling also that the role of international cooperation and coordination on a bilateral basis and, where applicable, within a subregional, regional, interregional or global framework is to support and supplement the national efforts of all States, including coastal States, in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Recalling also article 200 of the Convention, in which States are encouraged to participate actively in regional and global programmes to acquire knowledge for the assessment of the nature and extent of marine pollution, and welcoming in this regard the recommendation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to establish by 2004 a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, 4 Underlining once again the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, including through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national and local capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of oceans and their resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, 5 and emphasizing in this regard the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review, Taking note also of the report on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process (“the Consultative Process”) established by the _______________ 3 See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. 4 Ibid., resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). 5 A/57/57 and Add.1. 2