United Nations General Assembly A/RES/57/263 Distr.: General 28 February 2003 Fifty-seventh session Agenda item 88 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Second Committee (A/57/533)] 57/263. Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries The General Assembly, Stressing that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, Recognizing that developing countries have the primary responsibility for promoting and implementing South-South cooperation, not as a substitute for but rather as a complement to North-South cooperation, and in this context reiterating the need for the international community to support the efforts of the developing countries to expand South-South cooperation, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Group of 77 at their twenty-sixth annual meeting, held in New York on 19 September 2002, 1 in which the increased importance and relevance of South-South cooperation were re-emphasized, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on measures to promote and facilitate South-South cooperation; 2 2. Notes with satisfaction that developing countries have succeeded in setting elaborate action plans for South-South cooperation, and urges developing countries and their partners to intensify South-South and triangular initiatives contributing to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 3 3. Encourages developing countries to strengthen their national coordination mechanisms in order to improve the effectiveness of South-South and triangular cooperation, and in this connection also encourages other bilateral and multilateral development partners to do the same, as appropriate; _______________ 1 A/57/444, annex. A/57/155. 3 See resolution 55/2. 2 02 55666