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As to development cooperation, I want to see how we can best help developing countries get on their feet sustainably. I strongly believe that here, too, free trade and development of the private sector’s operating conditions in developing countries have an important role to play. Naturally assistance in the traditional sense is important in certain fragile countries and in specific sectors. In this regard, however, I don’t see any contradiction: the rule of law and good governance are the key words for investments, which in turn bring jobs. When at the same time we help countries to strengthen their tax base, they will be able to offer their citizens – girls and boys, women and men – basic services such as healthcare and education.
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