“More than ever, there is a greater need for the developing world to collaborate and cooperate on all matters of development”, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Dunya Maumoon, noting that the need for South-South Cooperation has only grown stronger with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Speaking at a High Level Meeting on South-South Cooperation hosted by His Excellency Xi JinPing, President of the People’s Republic of China, and His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, Minister Dunya highlighted that the innovations, creativity and ingenuity that already exists in the South, must be put to good use.
Minister Dunya also spoke about the specific challenges Maldives is facing in terms of access to development financing, as a recent graduate of the Least Developed Country group, and as a Small Island Developing State. She spoke of the need to address the way development is measured, as well as how Middle Income Countries face many challenges in accessing concessional financing to sustain the development gains made. In this regard, the Minister noted the important role partnerships between developing countries can make in consolidating development gains of newly graduated middle income countries.
Maldives along with 18 countries and 7 UN Agencies and Multilateral Organsiations participated in the High Level Meeting on South-South Cooperation.
ENDS
