Secretary-General to deal with the external-debt problem. Another urgent problem is to terminate quickly the negative outflow of resources from developing countries to developed countries. One of the specific features of the development of world trade in the 1980s was a significant drop in prices for commodities, whidh are the main source of exPort earnings for the majority of the developing countries. In order to helP those countries that depend on the export of commodities, effective measures will, in our view, have to be taken to resolve Problems in that area of trade. JVM./7 A/S-18/PV.S 21 (Mr. Byambasuren, Mongolia) Besides raising the prices of comm::>di ties, we believe that one effective measure to protect the interests of commodity exporters would be to apply the principle of exchanging raw materials for high technology. The entry into force last year of the agreement on establishing the Common Fund for Commodities was an important step in tryinq to resolve this problem. Mongolia also advocates strengthening the global system of trade preferences between developing countries, which is one of the main areas of South-South co-operation. International trade continues to be unfavourably affected by protectionism, including non-tariff barriers. Our delegation believes that the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of the trade talks under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) will be of great importance to changing the current system of international trade, which should become more responsive to the needs of developinq countries in the areas of trade and development. In today's interdependent world, strengthening the principle of multilaterality and enhancing the role of the United Nations are very important as we try to solve the major problems of the world involving the economic security of States. We welcome the United Nations ini tia ti ve to help develop managerial skills in 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the external debt problem, commodity prices, trade preferences, and the need for a more responsive international trade system. These themes suggest that the text is focused on economic issues, particularly those related to developing countries.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade