Deputy Secretary-General's closing remarks at event on South-South cooperation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

South-South cooperation is an integral aspect of international development cooperation. The almost weeklong series of special events shows the great importance the United Nations attaches to the subject. I thank all involved for making this possible.

The launch of the “Global South-South Development Expo and leader's roundtable” and other discussions helped you to address a wide range of important aspects of this issue, including ways to leverage market solutions for human development, promote public-private partnership for development, and ease disaster risks. You examined climate change and the role that media. In short, this rich series clearly presented ways in which developing countries can assist themselves onto a path of economic growth.

The Doha Declaration on Financing for Development, adopted during the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development held in Qatar earlier this month, reaffirmed the UN's support for South-South cooperation, as well as triangular cooperation, and stressed that it is a shining example of solidarity and cooperation between countries, based on shared experiences and objectives.

This celebration of South-South cooperation comes at a propitious time as the world struggles to find a way out of the financial, food and fuel crises and the crucial role that horizontal cooperation can play in helping attenuate the impact of these challenges.

I congratulate the Special Unit of UNDP for holding this very important event as I personally reaffirm the United Nation's commitment to South-South cooperation.

Thank you.