South-South Cooperation Pivotal to Shape a Greener Future for All
The 2022 International Forum on South-South Cooperation and Trade in Services took place in Beijing, China on 3 September. Under the theme “Shaping a Global Greener Future Through South-South Technical Cooperation”, the Forum aimed to deepen the understanding of the role and impact of technical cooperation in accelerating the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) and focused on scaling up efforts to shape a global greener future with the principles of inclusivity and leaving no one behind.
Held for the second year in a row during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), the forum was co-organized by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), and the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO).
More than 600 participants from 31 countries attended the event, including representatives from UN agencies, the Chinese government, foreign governments and diplomats, academia and research institutes, the private sector, etc.
Speaking at the Forum’s opening were Mr. QIAN Keming, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Prof. BAI Chunli, President of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO), Ms. Xiaojun Grace Wang, Trust Fund Director of UNOSSC, Mr. Munir Akram, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations and Chair of the Group 77, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China, and Ms. CHEN Jun, Vice Chair of Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
With less than a decade left to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, speakers at the opening session emphasized the importance of cooperation among Southern countries and delineated the challenges, good practices, and opportunities to build a greener future.
In the keynote session and panel discussion, representatives from UN agencies, developing countries, academia and research institutes highlighted the significant role of SSTC in promoting green development and tackling climate change challenges, as well as experience and practices of bridging the technical gap between Southern and Northern countries.
The event also showcased and launched a series of knowledge products, including a video about catalyzing technical collaboration through South-South Cooperation, and reports on poverty alleviation, drinking water safety, and green biomanufacturing.
