Together for a Better Tomorrow: Reflections on South-South Cooperation

Today, on International Day of South-South Cooperation, we are confronted by a world further split by its divides across all dimensions.

Conflicts and geopolitics are putting a great strain on nations and people of all strides, putting their peace and prosperity at risk.

If we are to achieve the 2030 Agenda, we must reverse our recent course and resume our path of progress towards sustainable development.

The UN’s role in South-South cooperation 

Four years ago, I assumed the role of Resident Coordinator in China amidst a once-in-a-century pandemic.

As I deployed, it became clear that a revitalization of the global partnership for sustainable development was necessary around the globe, to keep our promises and achieve the SDGs by 2030. 

It gave great clarity to me, as Resident Coordinator, on what had to be done. 

This was however no small task for the United Nations in China, including my team in the Resident Coordinator Office. 

With the circumstances often forcing us to convene online, this fuelled much distrust globally while stalling our progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Meanwhile, many came to question the ability of international cooperation and multilateralism to achieve results in a world that has become increasingly polarized.

South-South cooperation has long been recognized as a framework for countries in the Global South to contribute to their national well-being, national and collective self-reliance, and the attainment of internationally agreed commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Therefore, our task over the past years has been to renew this collaborative spirit through a dialogue with our counterparts from government and other sectors of society on how China’s experience and expertise could be best shared with other countries, focusing primarily on those in Africa. 

Reimagining South-South cooperation for Africa

China has long been Africa’s largest trading partner.

Chinese projects, have sprung up all over the continent, including the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya. 

But as fiscal space has tightened, so too have needs widened on the continent. The climate crisis has wreaked havoc in Africa, placing pressure on food security and agriculture, accelerating the need to rapidly transition to affordable and clean energy.

Similarly, the growing cohort of young people in Africa has turned the world’s attention to their needs, and their capacities in areas such as technology and innovation.

Transforming partnerships into action

Through our Transformative Partnerships Initiative, the UN in China has sought to foster policy and technical discussions with our Host Country and other Member States, particularly the African Ambassadors Group in Beijing, to identify ways to accelerate action towards the SDGs.

We have aimed to identify the specific areas for potential collaboration between China and African countries stemming from the FOCAC process and to seek out where more cooperation can contribute to progress on sustainable development, in a way that maximizes impact for people and planet.

Throughout our work, African Ambassadors have led the process, for example, in preparing for the FOCAC summit in Beijing.

As the Resident Coordinator, along with my UN Country Team, we are committed to convening, connecting, and catalyzing action. We believe in bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders - extending beyond our traditional partners to include academics, civil society organizations, and the private sector. This approach is evident in our efforts, from conversations on tackling drought in the Horn of Africa to calling attention to the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change.  

As concrete proposals evolve from such discussions here in China, we hope to eventually see more progress on the SDGs realized for the people of Africa.

Now more than ever, we need bridge builders and torchbearers for sustainable development.

So, let this International Day of South-South Cooperation bring us one step closer to a better tomorrow, together.