Video Message
Beijing, China
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
I congratulate you on convening this critical discussion on “empowerment and transformation”, and how international development cooperation can strengthen sustainable modernization in the Global South.
This discussion is timely. We meet at a moment of profound friction and transformation: political priorities are shifting, development assistance is falling, trade barriers are rising, global solidarity is eroding and facing the ultimate test.
Development cooperation faces multiple challenges and priorities: combating poverty and inequality; funding climate action and other global public goods; and addressing humanitarian emergencies and crises both at home and abroad.
The demand for development cooperation has never been greater.
We have no alternative but to protect and mobilize further support for development cooperation– to meet the SDGs, tackle global challenges and ensure that no one is left behind.
The Sevilla Commitment, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, provides a blueprint for renewed international development cooperation.
It calls for ambitious actions to increase financing volumes, improve allocations, expand access to concessional finance; and strengthen effectiveness at the national and global levels.
Crucially, the outcome document at FFD4 recognizes the critical role of the Global South in providing finance for sustainable development and encourages further up-scaling of voluntary contributions and partnerships for greater impact.
It also calls upon all development partners to ensure that effective knowledge-sharing, capacity and resilience building form the basis for empowerment-oriented development cooperation.
To advance on this transformation, our journey must be shaped by all countries and stakeholders. The Global South must have a leading voice in the process.
The revitalised United Nations Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) is the universal platform for countries and stakeholders to come together, on equal footing, to turn visions into action and respond to the common challenges.
I look forward to working with you to transform international development cooperation, and empower nations to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
Thank you.