Foreign officials urge for South-South and Triangular Cooperation improvements

Officials from home and abroad said that countries need to shore up South-South and Triangular Cooperation by means of improving exchanges and mutual learning, and strengthening coordination to promote modernization of the Global South.

Rania AI-Mashat, Egypt's minister of planning, economic development and international cooperation, said instead of being a substitute to the traditional development cooperation, South-South cooperation is trying to play a complementary role which is essential for bridging the technological and knowledge gap.

"China and Africa have been strong activists of South-South cooperation and have established mechanisms to promote their partnerships on the basis of win-win cooperation," she said.

She added that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is an example which has brought China and the continent together.

Noting digital transformation is one of important areas of South-South and triangular cooperation between China and Africa, she said it encourages knowledge sharing and creates exchanges in fields such as e-commerce and smart cities, which has greatly advanced progress from both sides and promoted African integration.

Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said as challenges faced by the Global South are often transnational in nature, efforts need to be made to bolster regional coordination and cooperation to empower countries to better respond to difficulties.

Noting the Belt and Road Initiative is a good platform to enhance connectivity, Iqbal praised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is a flagship project of the BRI, for immensely contributing to sustainable growth of Pakistan.

"I really want to commend China for its leadership, for the Belt and Road Initiative, for showing the pattern of how to achieve rapid and sustainable development in our times," said Jeffrey Sachs, professor at Columbia University of the United States.

China's successful experience such as investing in infrastructure and education, as well as sharing its development dividends with other countries are worth learning for countries who want to develop, he added.

Donal Brown, associate vice-president for program management department at International Fund for Agricultural Development, highlighted the importance of developing rural areas, saying it helps bridge urban and rural disparities and achieve inclusive development.

China announced last month a renewed $10 million contribution to the China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation Facility, which Brown said demonstrates China's ongoing commitment to supporting IFAD.

Zhao Fengtao, deputy head of China International Development Cooperation Agency, said it is also necessary to promote dialogue between the North and the South.

Countries of the Global North should share their resources, technologies and experience to ensure no one is left behind on the path of modernization, he said.