26 July 1991

32nd plenary meeting

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

The Economic and Social Council,

Noting resolution 47/10 of 10 April 1991 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on phase II of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific,

Also noting resolution 170 (XV) of 18 May 1989 of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on activities of the Transport and Communications Decade in Western Asia (1985-1994),

Recalling General Assembly resolution 39/227 of 18 December 1984, in which the Assembly proclaimed a Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific during the period 1985-1994, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/78 of 27 July 1984 on the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, 1985-1994,

Recalling also the section of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s concerning the improvement of transport and communications infrastructure,

Recalling further its resolution 1983/69 of 29 July 1983,

Recognizing the critical role of transport and communications 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 expected growth of all sectors of the economy generating the demand for transport and communications,

Recalling the report of the Secretary-General concerning progress made in the implementation of Council resolution 1984/78,

1. Endorses resolution 47/10 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on phase II of the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific, 1985-1994, with a view to:

(a) Raising the transport and communications infrastructural facilities and services of developing member and associate member Governments 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) Encouraging the active participation of existing subregional groupings of the region in formulating and implementing the activities for the Decade within their respective subregions in coordination with the regional secretariat;

(c) Associating national institutions concerned with transport and communications in the implementation of the activities for the Decade;

(d) Promoting the active involvement of commercial sectors in the implementation of the activities for the Decade;

2. Recommends that the General Assembly change the period of the second quinquennium of the Decade to 1992-1996 to coincide with the period of the medium-term plan, namely 1992-1997, so that adequate preparations for a regional action programme may be made, in accordance with resolution 47/10 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific;

3. Urges all appropriate international organizations, particularly the United Nations Development Programme, to contribute effectively to the formulation and implementation of a regional action programme for the second quinquennium of the Decade;

4. Requests the Executive Secretaries of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia to promote intergovernmental and inter-agency coordination and cooperation at the regional and subregional levels in the formulation and implementation of a regional action programme for the second quinquennium of the Decade;

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

6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its regular session of 1992 and every two years thereafter until the end of the Decade a report on the implementation of the present resolution.