国际英语资讯:UN chief hails developing countries contribution to global growth_时事

国际英语资讯:UN chief hails developing countries contribution to global growth

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, for her part, said: "We are at an optimal moment of South-South relationship that is shown by the economic development of Southern countries in the last few years."

She pointed to the rapid trade growth of the developing world, saying South-South exports have grown at an annual rate of 13 percent between 1995 and 2016, which exceeded world exports by 8 percent.

"The value of South-South trade increased seven times. It went from 0.6 billion dollars in 1995 to 4 billion dollars in 2016," she added.

Espinosa stressed that South-South cooperation is a model for world alliances to reach the sustainable development goals and that she is certain of the immense potential it offers.

Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), shared his agency's global footprint in South-South cooperation in 2017 at the opening ceremony of the expo.

He said the UNDP has launched 476 South-South cooperation initiatives across 127 countries worldwide, involving national government agencies as well as the private sector and civil society.

"The UNDP's work today is unthinkable without South-South cooperation," Steiner said. "It is part of the fabric, the mandate and the deliverables of the UNDP."

Organized by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in collaboration with UN agencies and other partners, the annual expo runs till Friday at UN Headquarters.