Nepal addresses Third South Summit, stressing on enhancing South-South solidarity

 Leader of the Nepali delegation, Foreign Secretary Ms. Sewa Lamsal addressed the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 and China, on Sunday. The Summit is being held in Kampala, the capital city of the Republic of Uganda, under the theme of ‘Leaving No One Behind.’

The 3rd South Summit of the Group of 77 and China is being hosted, on 21 and 22 January 2024, by the Republic of Uganda. The Summit has brought more than 134 countries together on a single platform to enhance South-South cooperation in the areas of sustainable development, climate change, trade, and investment, among others, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release.

In the opening segment of the Summit, the President of the78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Mr. Dennis Francis, and the UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres also delivered their statements.

Addressing the Summit, the Foreign Secretary Lamsal reiterated Nepal’s support to the Group of 77 and China in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement, and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals including Doha Program of Action. She expressed Nepal’s strong commitment to fostering solidarity, harmony, and cooperation among countries of the Global South.

She stressed on the importance of deeper cooperation in addressing the myriad of global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, inequality, debt distress, conflicts, climate change, and geopolitical rivalry.

On a positive note, she highlighted that the Global South is emerging as an economic powerhouse and contributing to more than half of the world’s growth.

With 134 member countries comprising over two-thirds of UN members and 80% of the global population, G77 and China, is a strong force to be reckoned with, said Foreign Secretary Lamsal.

‘Together, we can deliver better and greater’, she said.

Foreign Secretary Ms. Lamsal urged the Group to play an instrumental role in decision-making and norm-setting in global development and financial architecture. She also called on the Members to collaborate in making multilateralism more inclusive, innovative, and responsive to the needs of developing countries.

While calling for the fulfillment of promises and commitments made by developed countries in terms of Official Development Assistance (ODA), climate financing, and technology transfer, she underscored the importance of strengthening North-South, South-South, and Triangular Cooperation by focusing on the needs of LDCs in trade, infrastructure, and productive capacity.

In the afternoon, Foreign Secretary Ms. Lamsal attended the Luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic of Uganda in honor of the heads of delegations to the Third Summit of G77 and China.

The Summit meeting will conclude today with the adoption of the ‘Outcome Document’.