According to UNCTAD, the international community in 1971 recognized the existence of a category of countries whose distinctness lies not only in the profound poverty of their people, but also in the weakness of their economic, institutional and human resources.
UN: [21 Jul 2000] DEV/2253 : LAYING GROUNDWORK FOR THIRD UN CONFERENCE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS, 24 - 28 JULY