Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has stated global partnerships remain essential for the development of low to middle income countries such as the Maldives. He made the remarks while delivering a statement at the 20th session of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, organized by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.
In his statement, Minister Shahid recognized South-South and triangular cooperation to be one of the main drivers of regional cooperation and stability that has led to an increase of commerce, investments and exchange of information and technology. He noted that the Maldives was able to graduate from the list of Least Developed Countries in 2011, to an upper Middle-Income country, with the help of global partnerships.
Minister Shahid also acknowledged the role played by the global South in helping the Maldives during this COVID-19 pandemic, through the contribution of materials, healthcare workers, and essential commodities, as well as through financing and support for the tourism sector. He further noted the importance of solidarity in rebuilding the Maldives sustainably and in building back greener and bluer.
Minister Shahid also stated that the future of South-South Cooperation should be based on solidarity, equality and mutual respect and called on the moral and political obligation of the global North to support countries in the global South, via transfer of technology and the provision of finance.
The 20th session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation is being held from June 1-4, 2021, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This session will review the progress made in implementing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, the new directions strategy for South-South cooperation, the Nairobi outcome document of the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation and the Buenos Aires outcome document of the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40).