A review of what happened in the 1980s is useful onlv to the extent that it provides us with relevant experience with which we can face the future. Indeed, there have been mistakes. But equally there have been numerous lost / opportunities. Thus one clear lesson of the past is that while the Government of a developing country Ca'l do much to pronnte and stimulate development, it must not try to do everything. First, the capacities of the people themselves for creativity, innovativeness and, above all, self-reliance should be exploited to the maximum. Indeed, a great deal has been said and written about self-reliant development. Yet not so much has been done to put that doctrine into practice. Thus the dependency syndrome remains entrenched even in those areas and activities in which the developing countries could effectively help themselves. Moreover, the developing countries as a group are at different stages of economic development. Some of them are at a relativelY advanced stage of both industrial and technological <Evelopment, while others, like the United Republic of Tanzania, are in the category of the least developed. Thus the possibilities for mutual co-operation and assistance among the developing countries have not vet been fully exploited. The work of the South Commission represents a major and historic step towards the realization of that objective. The United Republic of Tanzania is optimistic that the work of the high-powered South Commission will enrich our perceptions and facilitate our endeavours to grapple with the challenges of the 1990s and beyond. Many delegations which have spoken before me have repeatedly emPhasized the reality of interdependence, not only between the developing countries but also between developing and developed countries. In the case of international trade, f1or example, one country's deficit is another's surPlus. Similarly, one countrv's 
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the importance of self-reliance and cooperation among developing countries to achieve economic development, highlighting the need to recognize the differences in stages of economic development among these countries. The text also touches on the concept of interdependence between developing and developed countries in the context of international trade. These themes suggest that the category should be related to economic development.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade