WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(98)/ST/41
18May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1993)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18and20May1998
Message totheMinisterial Conference Circulated byH.E. Mr.Hennadiy Udovenko,
President ofthe52nd Session oftheUNGeneral Assembly
Itgives megreatpleasure toconvey toalltheparticipants oftheConference mywarm greetings
andbestwishes ofsuccess inyourimportant work.
Iamespecially pleased tohavethisopportunity togreet youatatimewhen theinternational
community ismarking the50thAnniversary ofthecreation ofthemultilateral trading system. Iconsider
itdeeplysymbolicthattheSecondMinisterialConferenceofWTOMemberStatestakesplaceinGeneva,
where thesigning oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade by23countries halfacentury ago
heralded theemergence ofthemultilateral trading system.
Since theneight rounds ofmultilateral trade negotiations havebeenheldintheframework of
thissystem, eachofthemmaking asignificant contribution tothereduction oflevels ofprotectionism
andtheloweringoftariffandnon-tariffbarriershinderinginternationaltradeandinternationalinvestment
flows. Decade afterdecade, themultilateral system hasserved toboost thevolume ofworld trade
andinvestment andpromote thedevelopment technology andcommunications. Asitexpanded
geographically, ithascovered newspheres oftrading among nations withdifferent levels ofeconomic
development, helping tolinknational economic systems intoasingle international market.
Astheworld isnearing anewmillennium, themultilateral trading system finds itself new
challenges. Firstandforemost, itconcerns thesystem 'sagenda forthetwenty-first century andanew
round ofinternational trade negotiations which, inaccordance withtheUruguay Round Agreements,
should begin before theendofthisdecade.
Iremain confident, however, thatagainst thebackground ofincreasing globalization and
liberalization oftheworld economy, thefuture activities oftheWorld Trade Organization shallbe
directed towards theestablishment offavourable conditions forthedevelopment anddiversification
ofinternational tradeandthestrengthening ofcommercial andeconomic cooperation among countries
onthebasis ofequality, mutual benefit andgeneral accepted principles ofinternational law. This,
inturn, willhelptofoster more harmonious relations among countries, enhance economic activity,
andimprove employment opportunities andliving standards ofpeople around theworld.
Once again allow metowishyouevery success inallyourendeavours.
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