A/RES/50/101 Page 2 contained in Agenda 21, 5/ and the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by organizations and bodies of the United Nations system concerning science and technology for development, Bearing in mind the vital contribution of science and technology, including new and emerging technologies, to the promotion of economic growth and development, particularly in developing countries, and stressing the importance of monitoring new developments in science and technology and their implications for society, on production, employment and international competitiveness, especially for developing countries, Recognizing the importance for developing countries of having access to science and technology so as to enhance their productivity and competitiveness in the world market, and stressing the need to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies and the corresponding know-how, in particular to the developing countries, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights as well as the special needs of developing countries, Stressing the primary responsibility of all countries for their own science and technology policies, and the need to further promote endogenous capacity-building in science and technology in developing countries so as to enable them to participate in, benefit from and contribute to the rapid advances in science and technology, Recognizing that information technologies are important requisites for planning, development and decision-making in science and technology, and recognizing also their far-reaching implications for society, Recognizing the importance of developing countries’ own efforts in the field of science and technology for development, Reaffirming that the United Nations should play an important role in the promotion of cooperation in science and technology, and in the enhancement of support and assistance to developing countries in their efforts to achieve the objectives set forth by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in this regard, Recognizing the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in promoting the developing countries’ endogenous capacity in science and technology, and recognizing its unique function as a global forum for the examination of science and technology questions, for the improvement of the understanding of science and technology policies for development and for the formulation of recommendations and guidelines on science and technology matters within the United Nations system, all in relation to development, Recognizing the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and 5/ See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1 (Vol. I and Vol. I/Corr.1, Vol. II, Vol. III and Vol. III/Corr.1)) (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions Adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. /...