Graduation from least developed country status: extract from the Mauritius Strategy - Chapter XII, paras 63-64

64. The adoption by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly of resolutions on a smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries is welcomed, and they need to be fully implemented. The two States that the General Assembly recently resolved to graduate from the list of least developed countries, as well as all of the current potential candidates for graduation from least developed country status, are small island developing States. It is critical that the elaboration and implementation of smooth national transition strategies formulated with development partners take into consideration the specific vulnerabilities of graduating States and ensure that graduation does not disrupt their development plans, programmes and projects for achieving sustainable development. 65. In its recommendations concerning least developed country status, the Committee for Development Policy has made useful progress in better reflecting the vulnerability of developing countries that face special disadvantages, such as small island developing States; the Committees ongoing work in this regard is encouraged.