The segment was opened by H.E. Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.

Kofi Annan called for Developing Countries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by South-South trade cooperation and integration. He said "If developing countries agree to reduce the average tariffs applied to each other by 50 per cent, this would generate an additional $15.5 billion in trade." He added "This is not an alternative, but a complement to the multilateral liberalization process. But it could be a decisive move in the development of what President Lula has called a new global trade geography."

Statements by:
H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
H.E. Mr. Jorge Battle, President of Uruguay
H.E. Mr. Nicanor D. Frutos, President of Paraguay
H.E. Mr. Carlos Diego Mesa Gisbert, President of Bolivia
H.E. Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand	English