27 July 1984

Meeting 50

Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, 1985-1994

The Economic and Social Council,

Noting resolution 236(XL) of 27 April 1984 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, concerning a transport and communications decade for Asia and the Pacific during the period 1985-1994,

Bearing in mind the imperative need to mobilize funds for the decade through reprogramming or extrabudgetary contributions,

Recalling paragraph 30 of the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade, annexed to General Assembly resolution 35/56 of 5 December 1980,

Recalling also the section of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries relevant to the improvement of transport and communications infrastructure,

Recalling further Council resolution 1983/69 of 29 July 1983 concerning a transport and communications decade in Asia and the Pacific during the period 1985-1994,

Convinced of the critical role of all modes and means of transport and communications as enabling elements in economic development and the importance, therefore, of the improvement and growth of transport and communications infrastructure and services in a manner commensurate with the anticipated growth of all sectors of the economy generating the demand for transport and communications,

Recognizing the need for an integrated approach to the planning of transport and communications development and taking into account the positive contribution which the proclamation of a transport and communications decade for Asia and the Pacific during the period 1985-1994 would make towards the mobilization of support for such an approach,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Economic and Social Council resolution 1983/69 concerning the proclamation of a transport and communications decade in Asia and the Pacific,

1. Endorses resolution 236(XL) of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, with a view to:

(a) Raising the transport and communications infrastructural facilities of developing member countries to a level commensurate with their development objectives and priorities, giving particular attention to the special needs of the least developed, land-locked and island developing countries of the region;

(b) Identifying systematically and in a comprehensive manner the problems of transport and communications in the region and working out feasible solutions;

(c) Promoting a more effective and efficient transport and communications network comprising all modes and means in an integrated way, in particular for development of intraregional and interregional transport and communications linkages, as well as in the fields of the maintenance and co-ordination of networks, tariff setting and physical planning;

(d) Encouraging effective co-ordination and co-operation in the field of transport and communications in the region;

2. Recommends the General Assembly to proclaim a Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific during the period 1985-1994, in accordance with resolution 236(XL) of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific;

3. Urges all relevant international organizations, particularly the United Nations Development Programme, to contribute effectively to the implementation of the regional action programme for the Decade;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to extend, within existing resources, all necessary facilities and support to the Executive Secretaries of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic Commission for Western Asia in their elaboration of a practical and integrated regional action programme for the Decade and to mobilize the necessary international support for the successful implementation of the programmes for the Decade;

5. Calls upon the Secretary-General to promote intergovernmental and inter-agency co-ordination at the regional and subregional levels;

6. Invites all Governments, in particular those of the developed countries and others in a position to do so, to contribute and participate effectively in the implementation of the regional action programme for achieving the objectives of the Decade;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1986, and every two years thereafter until the end of the Decade.