Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Philemon Yang,
UN Day of South South Cooperation,
ECOSOC Chamber
12 September 2024
[As Delivered]
Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege to join you today in marking the UN Day for South-South Cooperation.
I extend my sincere thanks to United Nations Office for South South Cooperation for the kind invitation to speak on this important occasion.
Today serves as both a reminder of the power and potential of solidarity among the nations of the Global South, as well as an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable power of South-South Cooperation.
At the heart of this lies a powerful principle: that countries of the Global South, working together, have the capacity and the resources to take their destiny into their own hands, uplift themselves socio-economically, and can collaborate to address shared challenges.
These nations draw upon their common histories, unique experiences, and socio-economic contexts to develop solutions that are not only effective but sustainable.
The Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (BAPA), adopted in 1978, embodies this spirit of mutual support.
It is this legacy that we honor today.
Excellencies,
This year, we celebrate under the theme, “A Better Tomorrow with South-South Cooperation.”
This theme is both timely and urgent.
At the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must confront the reality that progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been uneven.
The countries of the Global South continue to face formidable challenges—climate change, sustainable development, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and acute debt distress.
The global crises we face today underscore the need for a collective response that is as dynamic and resilient as the challenges themselves.
I echo the sentiments expressed by Member States at key global forums: we must leverage South-South Cooperation more strategically in order to confront the pressing issues of our time.
Excellencies,
South-South Cooperation, combined with Triangular Cooperation, provides us with the tools and the framework to achieve the SDGs and secure a brighter future for all.
By mobilizing international solidarity and fostering global partnerships, we can accelerate progress and, importantly, ensure that no country is left behind.
Indeed, an economically empowered Global South, working together through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, can reshape the global economic landscape. We have the potential to create a more inclusive and sustainable development model, one where all stakeholders—governments, private sector, civil society, and communities—are meaningfully engaged in the process.
This is our moment to harness the strength of our partnerships, to tap into the wealth of knowledge that exists within our regions, and to build a future that reflects the values of equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
Together, through South-South Cooperation, we can forge a better tomorrow.
Thank you.
