Deeper cooperation needed to address global health crisis: UN Chief

NEW YORK: Marking the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, which is celebrated globally on September 12 every year, Anotnio Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations, released a video message calling for deeper international cooperation to address the global health crisis adequately.

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged out as the most complex, immediate challenge facing our world and it continues to undermine the world’s hard won social, economic, and environmental gains. Guterres said that in such trying times, the solidarity that underpins South-South cooperation has once again proven vital for developing countries. Throughout the pandemic, countries of the Global South have shared their knowledge and resources to support response and recovery efforts.

In his message, Guterres called for nations to build inclusive and resilient societies, where women and youth are empowered. He added that countries should leverage digital, greener and bluer initiatives, and expand sustainable financing. He noted that South-South and triangular cooperation offers concrete solutions to these shared challenges, and that the UN will continue to support these efforts, including through the System-wide Strategy on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development. Guterres believes that South-South and triangular cooperation is more essential than ever, given the situation where the world is seeking to ramp up COVID-19 response and recovery and tackle the existential threat of climate change.