Seminar on South-South cooperation and sustainable development held in Beijing

A seminar on South-South cooperation and sustainable development was held on Sept 24, 2019 in Beijing.

The Seminar on South-South cooperation and sustainable development underway in Beijing[photo/cidca.gov.cn]

Wang Xiaotao, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Zhang Maoyu, vice-chairman of the CIDCA and Nicholas Rosellini, UN Resident Coordinator in China, attended the seminar and delivered speeches.

Global development is imbalanced and inadequate, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has a long way to go, said Wang, adding that the international community should strengthen cooperation and adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" to provide assistance to developing countries.

Wang Xiaotao, chairman of the CIDCA, delivers a speech at the seminar. [photo/cidca.gov.cn]

Wang also said that China is a staunch supporter of, active participant in and important contributor to South-South cooperation, adding that, for a long time, it has provided assistance to developing countries without any political strings attached and has formed a foreign aid concept with Chinese characteristics. 

China is willing to establish partnership with the United Nations in the field of international development cooperation, strengthen policy exchanges and information sharing, and make good use of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund to make greater contributions to building a community of shared future for mankind and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said Wang.

Rosellini, UN Resident Coordinator in China delivers a speech. [photo/cidca.gov.cn]

Rosellini said that the UN highly values China's important contribution to helping other developing countries achieve their sustainable development goals and appreciates China's leading role in South-South cooperation, adding that China's influence in the field of international development cooperation is increasing.

The UN development agencies are willing to establish closer partnership with China, strengthen exchanges and experience-sharing, make full use of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, work together to promote South-South cooperation and make greater contributions to the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said Rosellini.

Zhang Maoyu, vice-chairman of CIDCA, said that through the seminar China and the UN reached many important consensuses on South-South cooperation and sustainable development and the CIDCA is willing to continue to strengthen communication and exchanges with relevant UN agencies, jointly develop the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, and constantly open up new ways of cooperation to do more practical work and good things for them. 

The seminar was jointly hosted by the CIDCA and the United Nations Development System in China. Representatives of 20 United Nations development agencies in China, including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Food Programme, attended the seminar.