This year’s United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation will fall one week prior to the SDG Summit, and will be an opportunity to raise awareness and accelerate practical actions as we arrive at this halfway point to 2030. The commemoration – organized by the UNOSSC, together with the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations – will be an opportunity to highlight needs emerging from various regions as well as to present transformational initiatives toward achieving the most acute priorities of the 2023 Agenda by Member States, the United Nations System, private sector, and civil society. During the 21st session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, the United Nations Member States recognized the development impacts of robust catalytic collaborations among the countries of the Global South in the areas of trade, investment, regional integration, and digitalization among others. Several reports issued prior to this High-level Committee session illustrated how Southern countries are strengthening institutional capacities while intensifying experience sharing and exchange of good practices toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, recent global discussions – including the 2023 Development Cooperation Forum and HighLevel Political Forum – have recognized the urgent need to leverage South-South cooperation as a means to address the challenges the world is facing in an sustainable and equitable manner. By harnessing the power of shared experiences, knowledge, and resources, countries can enhance their capacity to address climate change, ensure equitable development, and secure a sustainable future for all. Through leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation – as envisioned in the outcome of the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40) – there is an opportunity to address both immediate and long-term needs together, supporting countries to get back on track towards achieving the SDGs. This year’s ‘ 2023 Report of the Secretary-General on Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals’reminds us that it will take exceptional efforts and commitments to deliver a “rescue plan for people and planet.” The task ahead is daunting, but still possible. Unlocking the potential of South-South cooperation offers hope for concerted action and results. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #12September, #SouthSouthCooperation, #SDGs.
Statement by th eUnited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation 2023, September 12th.
In our world of deeply connected challenges, South-South cooperation plays a vital role in shaping a brighter future. The United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation is a powerful reminder that when nations unite, they can overcome obstacles and accelerate sustainable development.
From climate action to poverty eradication, from health care to education, from trade to digitalization, solidarity and strong partnerships between developing countries can pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable world.
Only together can we build a world of shared prosperity, where cooperation knows no borders. Through South-South cooperation, countries of the global South can share knowledge, skills, expertise and resources, coordinate their efforts and benefit from economies of scale. Together, they can multiply their sustainable development efforts to mitigate climate disruption, find solutions to a global health crisis, manage supply chain disruptions and deliver humanitarian assistance.
South-South and triangular cooperation are important, high-value complements to cooperation with developed countries. But they do not replace or reduce the responsibilities and commitments of the global North. Developed economies have a duty to work constructively with economies in the global South, to reduce inequality and build bridges to a sustainable future for all.
As we mark the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, let us recognize this form of collaboration as an essential catalyst for change, embodying solidarity, innovation and mutual support.
António Guterres.
A High-level Panel Discussion will be hold on September 12th 2023, from 3 pm to 4:30 pm in the ECOSOC Chamber at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
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