2022 BRICS Dialogue of Local Governments between China and Emerging Markets and Developing Countries
2022年9月20日
Remarks by Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China
Distinguished guests,
It is an honour to join this important Dialogue.
I wish to take this opportunity to commend the vision, leadership and passion of Ambassador Lin Songtian for his faith and support in the spirit of multilateralism.
The principles that bring us together — to promote the solidarity and international cooperation needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among developing countries, including BRICS countries, have become more urgent in the face of our global challenges.
Climate change, uneven economic recovery, rising poverty and inequality, profound food insecurity, and the lingering pandemic present significant challenges and demand an unprecedented showing of unity in response.
To overcome centuries of underdevelopment and entrenched inequality between the Global North and Global South, the BRICS partnership can become a role model for South-South Cooperation. I firmly believe in its potential.
This moment in history requires our collective effort to ensure peace, end hunger, and combat climate change, not simply because it is the right thing to do but because it is the only choice.
At the 14th BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping stated the importance of reenergizing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to “contribute to stronger, greener, and healthier global development.”
We welcome this commitment, and we stand ready to strengthen China’s efforts in South-South and trilateral cooperation and partnerships with other countries, including BRICS countries, for the achievement of the SDGs.
Balanced bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, that encourage people-to-people exchange and bring innovative solutions to scale, are much needed in areas such as renewable energy and agricultural infrastructure.
As a group of powerful developing economies, BRICS members are well placed to expand cooperation on sustainable development, including with other countries of the Global South.
While contributions have been made, there is considerable potential that remains.
Realizing this will take building capacity to engage in multilateral development, and establishing development assistance institutions that are equipped not just to offer funds.
These institutions must work to pursue equal partnerships that prioritize people, defer to local needs, engage in rigorous evaluation of impacts, and ensure that their frameworks are well aligned with recognized international norms and standards.
This is the great task at hand for many of our partners in the room today.
The UN in China stands ready to share our technical expertise and support to enhance these efforts.
As an example of our commitment, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in China has supported efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions through the establishment of the International Hydrogen Energy Centre.
Here, it aims to develop the global hydrogen energy industry by promoting best practices, through South-South, triangular and regional cooperation, and by carrying out technology research, development, and application, to support capacity building and technological breakthroughs that can enhance green hydrogen economies.
Moreover, the UN in China continues to offer its technical support to partners in China and Africa on the implementation of the Dakar Plan of Action resulting from the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
If implemented well, many of the commitments made under FOCAC have the potential to accelerate the achievement of some of the SDGs in critical parts of the African continent.
Much more is to be done in this realm and across the Global South if we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
We look forward to continued collaboration with all Member States, including BRICS countries, in these efforts.