UN General Assembly
1967

62. Especially in Asia, plagued today by a host of difficult problems, it is essential, if peace and stability are to be secured in the area, to push forward vigorously with economic and social development. Asia has the largest population in the world. According to United Nations statistics, there are a number of countries in the area where the per capita national income is still below $100, In my view, it is not realistic to hope for peace and stability in Asia without first improving the sorry state of poverty there. The problem of development in these countries is not merely an economic or social question. Indeed it should be understood as a problem of building peace in Asia. 63. In Asia, regional co-operation for economic development is being actively promoted. A number of new organizations have been established for the purpose. These are indicative of the desire of Asians to achieve their common objective of overcoming poverty by their own efforts. We heartily welcome those efforts.