A/RES/72/230 Development cooperation with middle-income countries as extreme weather shocks directly affect productivity through the destruction of infrastructure and labour force displacement, and that a number of middle -income countries have sizeable sectors that are exposed to climate change, such as agriculture, construction, mining, tourism and transport, Reaffirming that achieving gender equality, empowering all women and girls, and the full realization of their human rights are essential to achieving sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development, and in that regard reiterating the need for gender mainstreaming, including targeted actions and investments in the formulation and implementation of all financial, economic, environmental and social policies, Noting with concern that the ratio of public debt to gross domestic product for middle-income countries increased from around 48 per cent in 2015 to 50 per cent in 2016, Recognizing that the remaining effects of the world financial and economic crisis have the potential to undermine progress towards achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals, and threaten debt sustainability in many countries, especially developing countries, Reiterating the pledge that no one will be left behind, reaffirming the recognition that the dignity of the human person is fundame ntal, and the wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society, and recommitting to endeavour to reach the furthest behind first, Recommitting to ensuring that no country or person is left behind and to focusing our effort where the challenges are greatest, including by ensuring the inclusion and participation of those who are furthest behind, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 8 2. Acknowledges the efforts made and successes achieved by many middleincome countries in eradicating poverty and achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, as well as their significant contribution to global and regional development and economic stability ; 3. Also acknowledges that identifying structural gaps can improve the understanding of development needs of developing countries, including middle income countries; 4. Underlines the need for sustained efforts towards achieving debt sustainability in middle-income countries in order to avoid a debt crisis; 5. Recognizes that, with 73 per cent of the world’s poor population concentrated in middle-income countries, cooperation with those countries can contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals; 6. Welcomes the solidarity of middle-income countries with other developing countries, in particular the financial, technical, technology transfer and capacitybuilding support being provided by middle-income countries, particularly to the least developed countries, through South-South and triangular cooperation, while stressing that South-South cooperation is a complement to, and not a substitute for, NorthSouth cooperation, and in this regard calls upon the United Nations development system to continue its ongoing efforts to mainstream support to South -South cooperation and triangular cooperation; __________________ 8 4/6 A/72/329. 17-23307