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appreciation of the valuable contributions made by participants.
The discussions had been lively and frank, and there was little doubt that they had served their purpose of facilitating the more effective participation of the developing countries concerned in the future discussions.
In his view, the emphasis emerging from the Seminar in favour of a united stand and coordination among developing countries, and the continuing desire for exchanges of experience and information, were the two outstanding features of the discussions, and these would help in shaping the role of developing countries in the further negotiations. He once again thanked the host Government of Hong Kong for the facilities provided and the excellent arrangements made for the conduct of the Seminar.
34. In relation to some of the follow-up activities proposed during the discussions, the Chairman pointed out that the suggestion regarding wider circulation of papers submitted for the Seminar would be examined in consultation with the others. In regard to the suggestion about the question being raised at the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government, he thought it was open to any member country to raise this topic. He also expressed the hope that further studies and technical papers by UNCTAD and GATT Secretariats in regard to particular aspects raised during the discussions would be attempted soon.
35.
Participants speaking after the summing up expressed their gratitude to the Commonwealth Secretariat for organising the Seminar, which they regarded as most useful, and thanked the other organizations which had cooperated in the endeavour. Mr. Prok Amranand of the ESCAP Secretariat informed the participants at this stage of a decision by the recent Ministerial meeting of ESCAP, that a seminar on MTN with textiles as one of the principal topics be held later in the year.
He suggested that all textiles exporting developing countries might be invited to participate and that the Seminar be organised jointly by the Commonwealth and ESCAP Secretariats. In relation to the present Seminar, he was of the view that textiles-exporting developing countries had for the first time in his experience shared views in relation to the MFA on an intimate first hand basis at a wider than regional level, and he therefore regarded the Seminar as a breakthrough and outstanding
success.