at the supranational level, and that accordingly the United Nations will have an essential role to play. I believe that our meetings will result in a stronger will to guide the future together, and I should like to conclude my statement on this hopeful note. JP/jl A/S-18/PV. 3 39 Mr. ZHENG Tuobin (China) (interpretation from Chinese): The special session of the General Assembly devoted to international economic co-operation, in particular to the revitalization of economic growth and development of the developing countries, the first of its kind in a full decade, has finally been convened, thanks to the initiative of the Group of 77 and the joint efforts of all parties. It is particularly significant that our session takes place at a time when the international situation is undergoing profound changes as we enter the last decade of the twentieth century. We are convinced, Mr. President, that under your able guidance, and with the sincere efforts of all participants, our session will come to a successful conclusion and will make a worthy contribution to international economic co-operation in the coming decade. I should like to take this opportunity to extend our warm congratulations and welcome to the new member of the Organization, the Republic of Nambia, and to welcome its participation in the special session. We believe that the Namibian people, who have recently won independence through protracted and courageous struggles, have an important role to play in international affairs. The international community is confronted with a full range of major issues in the decade of the 1990s. The development of the third-world countries is precis~ly a major issue of fundamental importance. In the last decade the world economy has been characterized by serious global imbalances. The gap between the North and the South continues to widen. To 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the revitalization of economic growth and development of developing countries, which suggests that the topic is related to economic development. The mention of global imbalances and the widening gap between the North and the South also supports this hypothesis. Additionally, the text highlights the importance of international economic cooperation, which is a key aspect of international trade.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade