international community at a time when it is facing the risks incurred by the present radical developments. This is indeed a qood time to reassess the international situation, since our objective here is to arrive at a political declaration adapted to the needs of our day and age, if we are to reach international consensus representing a solid basis for our economic relations on the threshold of a new century -indeed, of a new era. Perhaps one of the most striking facts worthy of note at the present time is that the standard of living in developed countries is 50 times higher than that of the least developed. With the increase in the technological qap, the persistence of imbalances in present international economic relations could become the norm and easily lead to splitting mankind into two categories constantly driven away from each other. This situatioo is intolerable, not only on ethical grounds -although that would suffice -but also from the point of view of the common interests of the international community and mankind's shared future in a world where interdependence is becoming indispensable.· The logical starting point for forging a new international consensus concerning the principles of international economic co-operation, in particular a revitalization of the international economic growth and development of the developing countries, lies in a scientific and rigorous review of the decade of the 1980s, which has rightly been described as a lost decade.for development. A brief look at the situation in Africa would suffice as an example: per capita income is steadily declining, the population rate is growing, commodity prices are falling, resources are being negatively transferred and, last but not least, foreign debt is increasing. JSM/td A/S-18/PV.2 98 (Mr. Moussa, Egypt) Africa, despite its specific characteristics, is only an example of a situation that prevails, to various extents, in the developing regions of the world 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the current state of international economic relations, highlighting the significant disparities between developed and developing countries. It emphasizes the need for a new international consensus on economic cooperation, particularly for the development of developing countries. The text also touches on the theme of technological advancements and their impact on global economic relations.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade