Locations
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivered opening remarks at the 29th Annual Meeting of the South-South Cooperation Network in Fujian, China.
Esteemed colleagues and friends,
Good morning!
It is a great pleasure to join you today at the 29th Annual Meeting of the China South-South Cooperation Network.
For nearly three decades, this network has played a critical role in advancing knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaborative innovations across the Global South.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to CICETE and all partners for your kind invitation to join you today in the deepening the efforts in promoting South-South cooperation (SSC) as a driver of shared progress towards sustainable development.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As the world navigates complex challenges, multilateral cooperation is more important than ever in our collective pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – our global blueprint for people and planet.
With only less than five years to the 2030, global progress remains uneven, with many developing countries facing pressing challenges—from economic uncertainty to climate vulnerabilities.
At the Summit of the Future held on 22 September 2024, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future and its annexes: the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations.
It specifically noted the need to strengthen North-South cooperation, South- South and triangular cooperation, while taking into account different national circum-stances, to build capacity for and improve access to science, technology and innova-tion, and to increase resources for the implementation of technical and scientific initiatives;
South-South Cooperation plays an indispensable role in today’s development landscape.
It represents a shared vision among the peoples and countries of the South that is shaped by close historical realities, similar development pathways, as well as shared challenges.
It provides an essential platform for countries to exchange solutions, mobilize resources, and advance inclusive, sustainable development together.
"It is our collective responsibility to build bridges and take urgent practical action to scale up South-South successes and lessons learned. Through partnership, innovation, and knowledge exchange, we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities and shape a better future for everyone, everywhere."
Initiatives like today’s meeting demonstrates how South-South knowledge sharing can unlock new opportunities for economic growth and social development.
The United Nations Development Programme has been facilitating South-South Cooperation for over 40 years.
With a global presence in over 170 countries and strong, longstanding partnerships, we serve as a connector, convenor, and catalyst, fostering cooperation among developing nations.
UNDP considers SSC as a fundamental approach to development cooperation and we advance the SSC agenda to achieve the SDGs by leveraging our network of offices, policy centers and expertise at global, regional and country levels.
As an organization with a long history as a trusted knowledge broker, partnership facilitator, and a capacity development facilitator of SSC - it is in UNDP’s DNA.
In China, UNDP has worked alongside national institutions, private sector actors, academia and multilateral platforms to support innovative SSC initiatives to achieve the SDGs.
We have facilitated policy dialogues, capacity-building programs, and demonstration projects that generate tangible development impact.
Our efforts in South-South Cooperation is premised on multistakeholder collaboration to create solutions tailored to the needs of developing countries and in response to the national development priorities of the participating countries and cognizant of the importance of building, strengthening and sustaining local capacities, skills and capabilities
In today’s world – it is increasingly critical to draw upon our comparative expertise in areas such as green technology, sustainable agriculture, and financing to scale up proven models.
Speed and scale – alongside leveraging breakthroughs in technology and unlocking financing at scale is critical for us to realize the SDGs.
UNDP is committed to deepening collaboration with development partners to advance sustainable development.
We stand ready to work alongside all stakeholders to scale up impact and drive lasting, sustainable progress to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and leaving no one behind.
We believe that a truly inclusive, green and resilient future is only possible through collective action—by combining our expertise, resources, and innovative solutions.
As we convene today, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to leveraging South-South cooperation as a catalyst for positive change.
Countries of the Global South, working closely with Northern partners and the United Nations, can multiply and optimize their sustainable development successes by coordinating their efforts and benefiting from economies of scale.
It is our collective responsibility to build bridges and take urgent practical action to scale up South-South successes and lessons learned.
Through partnership, innovation, and knowledge exchange, we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities and shape a better future for everyone, everywhere.
Thank you, and I look forward to our discussions today.
