..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date: 15 December 2009
Press Release No: L/67/2009

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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MESSAGE ON THE UNITED NATIONS DAY
FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION
19 December 2009

South-South cooperation is thriving. It has advanced trade and opened new avenues for economic growth. South-South financial flows have been critical in warding off some of the impacts of the global economic crisis.

Despite these successes, developing countries continue to face serious challenges such as hunger, AIDS, job losses and other fallout of the economic crisis, and the need to adapt to potentially catastrophic climate change. The global response to these challenges must pay particular attention to the South, and in particular the least developed countries, which suffer first and worst.

The theme of this year’s International Day for South-South Cooperation – “Innovative Solutions through Inclusive Partnerships” -- is meant to highlight the need for stronger alliances and coalitions. I encourage the countries of the South to deepen their cooperation, and I urge the North to support those efforts. But there need to be more North-South partnerships, too. South-South cooperation should not be seen as a substitute for North-South cooperation, but complementary to it.

Many countries of the South have increasingly strong institutional, technical and financial capacities. Just two weeks ago in Nairobi, at the High Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, Member States renewed their commitment to harnessing these endowments and pursuing more inclusive avenues for development cooperation. On this International Day, let us pledge to do more to realize the great potential of South-South and triangular cooperation.