POTENTIAL, POPULARITY OF SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION GREATER THAN EVER,

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS HEADQUARTERS BRAINSTORMING SESSION

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks at a brainstorming session on South-South cooperation, delivered in New York on 3 May:

I am delighted to join you for this brainstorming session on South-South and triangular cooperation.

The potential -- and popularity -- of South-South cooperation has never been greater.  The recent strong economic performance of many developing countries has expanded opportunities for collaboration between them.  This trend has been reinforced by increased efforts at regional integration, as well as a shared agenda to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Today, South-South exchanges are booming.  Trade among developing countries is growing faster than other trade flows, while capital transfers between countries of the South are also rising at a higher rate than North-South flows.  The areas of cooperation have expanded as well.  They now cover security, good governance, health and the environment, as well as economic cooperation.  More than ever before, developing countries are collaborating on such pressing global issues as terrorism, migration and the spread of disease.

The Secretary-General and I welcome this new dynamism.  We are particularly encouraged by increased technical cooperation and economic support by and among developing countries.  The countries of the South make up a large majority of the world’s population.  They also constitute a majority of the Member States of the United Nations.  More and better linkages between them benefit not only these countries, but the broader quest for security and development in the world as well.

That is but one reason why the ideal of South-South cooperation is crucial to the UN’s mission.  Indeed, UN Member States have expressed support for better and greater development cooperation on numerous occasions.  I know that the Secretary-General is acutely aware of successive General Assembly mandates that call for measures to support South-South cooperation in general, and the role and functioning of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation in particular.  These requests were recently reiterated by Heads of State and Government at the Second South Summit in June 2005.  Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to reassure you that these calls are in our minds as we proceed with the UN reform measures currently under way.

The rapid growth in intra-South cooperation necessitates a systematic and efficient approach towards managing the process.  I am heartened by the “Group of 77” and China’s efforts to review existing South-South cooperation and to explore ways to enhance it in ways that can help achieve wider aims like the Millennium Development Goals.  I hope your discussions will also focus on ways to make development cooperation a more inclusive and result-oriented endeavour.

In addition, the fifteenth biennial session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation will take place here at UN Headquarters later this month.  The thoughts and ideas generated by this brainstorming session can help set the stage for a successful meeting.

As we approach next year’s thirtieth anniversary of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, we have much to celebrate.  Parts of the developing world have made tremendous progress over the past three decades.  Development cooperation has increased several times over.  Millions have been lifted out of poverty.

Yet, our work remains incomplete.  Many countries still have great distances to cover, and many millions still subsist on next to nothing.  Addressing these needs requires a true worldwide partnership for development, but it also demands even stronger South-South development cooperation.

As the Group of 77 and China works to enhance such ties, the United Nations will remain your partner every step of the way.  Together, we can help realize the potential of South-South cooperation in improving the lives of those most in need.

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For information media • not an official record