The new millennium offers a real opportunity to eliminate world poverty. This is the greatest moral challenge facing our generation. It is also in the UK's national interest.
Globalisation creates unprecedented new opportunities and risks.
If the poorest countries can be drawn into the global economy and get increasing access to modern knowledge and technology, it could lead to a rapid reduction in global poverty as well as bringing new trade and investment opportunities for all. But if this is not done, the poorest countries will become more marginalised, and suffering and division will grow. And we will all be affected by the consequences. In order to make globalisation work for the poor we need not just strong and vibrant private sectors, but also effective governments and strong and reformed international institutions. We need to work collectively to tackle the problems of conflict and corruption, boost investment in education and health, spread the benefits of technology and research, strengthen the international financial system , reduce barriers to trade, tackle environmental problems and make development assistance more effective.