South-South cooperation is more important than ever – UN chief

On Friday, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation hosted a high-level virtual panel discussion on boosting solidarity “in support of a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.”

“As the world seeks to ramp up COVID-19 response and recovery and tackle the existential threat of climate change, South-South and triangular cooperation is more important than ever,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the event.

The announcement comes just two days before the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, which is celebrated on September 12th.

The COVID-19 pandemic, according to Guterres, is “the most complex immediate challenge facing our world, undermining hard-won social, economic, and environmental gains.”

In such trying times, he said, the solidarity that underpins South-South cooperation had proven vital for developing countries once again.

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“Global South countries have shared their knowledge and resources to aid response and recovery efforts throughout the pandemic. But we must do much more together,” the UN chief said.

To address the global health crisis, reduce poverty and inequality, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and avoid climate catastrophe, Guterres believes that greater international cooperation is required.

“Building inclusive and resilient societies, empowering women and youth, leveraging digital, greener and bluer initiatives, and expanding sustainable financing,” the UN Secretary-General explained.
In recent years, the countries of the South have contributed to more than half of global growth. Intra-South trade is at an all-time high, accounting for nearly a quarter of all global trade.

“South-South and triangular cooperation provide concrete solutions to these common challenges,” Guterres continued.

At the same event, General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir stated that the world must do more to assist these developing countries in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and that South-South cooperation is critical in this regard.

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“I have a long list of facts and figures about the impact on developing countries, including everything from income to inequality, gender empowerment to social service access.

“Suffice it to say, these numbers are not encouraging. Years of progress have been wiped out or are in jeopardy,” he explained.

He said that during his travels, particularly in Central Asia and the Caribbean, he saw how important South-South and triangular cooperation were in addressing challenges, especially those that cut across borders and regions.