Regional and subregional co-operation

Abstract

The Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order of May 19741 viewed co-operation among developing countries at the regional, sub-regional and interregional levels as a means of strengthening their role in a new international economic order. Attention since the mid-1970s has been largely focused on the potential for a realignment of economic relationships between North and South. These sentiments were carried forward into the International Development Strategy for the 1980s, which calls upon member countries of the United Nations “to fulfil their commitment to establish a new international economic order based on justice and equity”. However, the Strategy also views economic and technical co-operation among developing countries (ECDC and TCDC) based on collective self-reliance as “a dynamic and vital component of an effective restructuring of international economic relations”. In conformity with the Strategy, this chapter concentrates on ECDC and TCDC aspects in the developing ESCAP region rather than on regional co-operation in its wider sense.