Secretary-General, in Video Message to Awards Event, Says South-South

Cooperation Crucial for Post-2015 Development Agenda

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki‑moon’s video message to the South-South Awards Reception, in New York today:

I am delighted to greet the South-South Awards Reception and I congratulate the winners of these prestigious awards.  I am also deeply honoured by your decision to confer an award to me.

South-South and triangular cooperation play a crucial role in advancing the global development agenda.  Together, as partners, we have made great progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.  Now we must turn that commitment and energy to achieving the post-2015 development agenda.

South-South cooperation, including innovation and technology, will continue to be an essential component in this work and its relevance is increasing.  Developing countries provide 33 per cent of global investment, and that share is expected to grow.  Intra-South trade now exceeds Southern exports to the North.

South and North alike continue to wrestle with serious challenges, from humanitarian crises and armed conflicts to poverty, inequality, malnutrition and vulnerability to climate change and weather-related shocks.  As we tackle these problems and seize opportunities for common progress, we must encourage further South-South collaboration among all partners — both public and private.

Together, we can eradicate poverty, and achieve sustainable development and a life of dignity for all.

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For information media • not an official record