NEW YORK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said that cooperation among developing countries played a significant role in promoting development and prosperity in the region and added that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an inspiring model of South-South cooperation.
While addressing a roundtable on South-South Cooperation, co-chaired by Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, the Prime Minister said the CPEC would bring huge economic and development benefits not just to Pakistan and China, but also the entire region.
He said the CPEC project formed an important component of President Xi Jinping’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. “We greatly admire the vision underlying this initiative,” the Prime Minister said and added this development strategy and framework offered new opportunities for Asia’s transformation and prosperity.
He said further strengthening of institutional support from the UN System would help maximize the impact of South-South cooperation, as such an approach would help sustain development efforts and ensure enhanced participation of developing countries in the global economy, in conformity with the new Agenda.
The roundtable was held on the margins of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit and the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Prime Minister said business and private sectors also had an important role in promoting economic opportunities, innovation and high impact solutions. Pakistan, he said, was also extending training and technical support to developing countries in various fields.
He said Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy in Islamabad had been offering training facilities to Africa, Central Asia and other regions.
He said the established principles and provisions of South-South Cooperation should continue to guide this collaborative framework.
He said, “South-South cooperation is unique, for it is a cooperation among equals, based on solidarity. Its role in promoting development and resilience in our countries is significant.”
