The Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, stated yesterday in New York that Morocco’s presidency of the UN South-South Cooperation Committee will follow the vision of King Mohammed VI in this area.
Hilale emphasized at the opening of the 22nd session of this high-level committee that “the royal vision for South-South cooperation will serve as a beacon for the Moroccan presidency in its efforts to enhance the values of solidarity, mutual respect, and shared prosperity among Southern countries.”
In this context, the ambassador presented the Moroccan model, under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI, “which places South-South cooperation at the heart of its foreign policy, rooted in solidarity, especially with our African brothers and sisters, and increasingly with Latin American and Caribbean countries and the Pacific region.”
For his part, Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, praised the King, commending Morocco’s commitment, under the King’s leadership, to establishing dynamic poles for South-South cooperation.
During his remarks at the end of his eight-year tenure at the agency, he noted that the UN Development Programme is intensifying its collaboration with the Kingdom to support and strengthen these initiatives, in line with the vision and efforts that Morocco has championed on the international stage for years.
The UN official highlighted the importance that South-South cooperation continues to hold as a lever for formulating practical solutions that align with development challenges, underscoring the collective efforts made by numerous countries and regions to leverage experiences which serve as a source of innovation and efficiency.
In this regard, Ambassador Hilale mentioned that Morocco’s presidency coincides with a pivotal moment for multilateral cooperation, amid a global context characterized by increasing uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and escalating climate shocks.
He pointed out that international development financing is currently at its lowest levels, marked by a concerning stagnation of public development aid, and the exclusion of many developing countries, including middle-income countries, from access to favorable forms of support and financing.
Hilale noted that South-South cooperation cannot serve as a substitute for North-South cooperation; rather, it is an essential complement, emphasizing its critical role in maintaining international solidarity, which now faces significant challenges.
He also highlighted the growing importance of triangular cooperation, which contributes to strengthening South-South cooperation by enabling developing countries to expand their access to diverse resources, expertise, and technical capacities.
Additionally, the diplomat praised the fruitful collaboration between Morocco and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, headed by Dima Khoury.
The work of this high-level committee, which runs until Friday, will culminate in the adoption of a resolution on South-South cooperation, which will be presented to the General Assembly.
