A/RES/53/28 Page 5 23. Welcomes the efforts of funds and programmes in assisting countries in implementing all Summit commitments at the national, regional and international levels; 24. Also welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme in the implementation of Summit commitments aimed at the eradication of poverty, particularly in Africa and the least developed countries; 25. Further welcomes the contribution of the International Labour Organization on the implementation of the Summit commitments, particularly relating to its activities in promoting expansion of productive employment and reduction of unemployment as part of promoting social development; 26. Takes into account that the Commission for Social Development will examine at its thirtyseventh session, in 1999, the theme “Social services for all”, and emphasizes the importance of the continued involvement and support by funds and programmes as well as specialized agencies, notably the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in the promotion and attainment of the Summit commitment of promoting universal and equitable access to quality education, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and the access of all to primary health care; 27. Urges the continued involvement and support by the regional commissions in the promotion of the implementation of the objectives of the Summit at the regional and subregional levels, and reiterates its invitation to the commissions, in accordance with their mandates and in cooperation with the regional intergovernmental organizations and banks, to continue to convene on a biennial basis meetings at a high political level to review the progress made towards implementing the outcome of the Summit, to exchange views, to identify and share best practices and lessons learned and to identify additional initiatives to strengthen implementation; 28. Welcomes in this context the convening of subregional meetings by the Economic Commission for Africa in December 1998 and in 1999, and a regional meeting by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in December 1998 to evaluate the follow-up of the Summit in their regions; The special session of the General Assembly and its preparatory process 29. Recalls its resolution 50/161, in which it decided to hold a special session in 2000 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit and to consider further actions and initiatives; 30. Also recalls its resolution 52/25, in which it decided to establish a Preparatory Committee open to the participation of all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies, with the participation of observers in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly; 31. Takes note of the report and decisions of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives;9 9 Ibid., Supplement No. 45 (A/53/45). /...