Mme President,

From the outset, the Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate you and your bureau for successfully guiding the work of the 20th session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation. Under your able leadership, we have had very fruitful discussions on the role of South-South Cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the effective implementation of the BAPA+40 outcome document while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and similar global crises.

Also, allow me to congratulate all delegations for the successful and consensual adoption of the draft Decision on South-South Cooperation that will guide the work of the High-Level Committee until 2023. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the constructive engagement and for the spirit of flexibility and solidarity shown by delegations during the negotiations process.

We would also like to thank the UN Office for South South Cooperation for their continued support and assistance all throughout this process. May I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Acting Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, Mr. Adel Abdellatif, for his valuable contribution and vision for South-South cooperation and leading the preparatory process of this session. I would also like to express our sincere thanks to the Administrator of UNDP for his able leadership and strong support to South-South cooperation, and I acknowledge the presence of the Associate Administrator of UNDP. We extend our thanks to UNDP for continuing hosting the UN Office for South-South Cooperation over the years as the system-wide focal point on South-South cooperation. The G-77 and China looks forward to the support of the Executive Board of UNDP in the context of the next strategic framework of UNOSSC (2022-2025).

Mme President,

This year’s decision is of particular importance as this is the first adopted after the High-level Committee in 2016 and after the adoption of the BAPA+40. The decision which the Committee has adopted by consensus present an opportunity for us to embark on a reinvigorated era for South-South and triangular cooperation. It is now up to us to continue to work together to ensure that progress made to date in South-South cooperation can be advanced in the years to come. The many challenges facing developing countries, demonstrate that international cooperation for development remains an imperative. The decision is not only to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the BABA+40 outcome document but also highlights the important role of South-South and triangular Cooperation in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Group of 77 and China believes that we have a solid ground to advance the implementation of the BAPA outcome as well as to support the promotion of South-South and Triangular Cooperation. We would like to seize this opportunity to reflect on the increasing importance of South-South Cooperation and raise the awareness of the international community on its continued relevance.

In closing, the Group also calls upon the international community to foster and strengthen initiatives, commitments, ambitions, and objectives generated since BAPA+40 while contributing to the role played by South-South and triangular cooperation in supporting all developing countries to achieve sustainable development.

I thank you.