Xi calls for solidarity in South-South cooperation, sustainable development

Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday called on emerging market and developing countries to stay together and work harder for South-South cooperation and sustainable development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 5, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Xi made the remarks at the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries, which was attended by leaders of BRICS countries, as well as Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan and Thailand.

The dialogue, which was held along with the ninth BRICS summit in the southeastern city of Xiamen, is proposed by China to pull together emerging market and developing countries and push BRICS as a leading platform for South-South cooperation.

Xi said he expected the dialogue to create a strong impetus for deepening South-South cooperation and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

DEEPENING SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

China, which holds BRICS rotating presidency this year, proposed "BRICS Plus" to invite leaders of five other developing countries to the summit.

"I'm confident that the dialogue will strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among emerging market and developing countries, and also contribute to the building of BRICS mechanism," Xi said. "Emerging market and developing countries, who face similar development tasks, can multiply their impact by deepening practical cooperation and tapping into their complementary advantages."

Xi said emerging market and developing countries need to make good use of BRICS, the Group of 77 and other mechanisms to broaden South-South cooperation on a larger scale and jointly tackle global challenges.

He also said they need to forge interconnected development and seek strength in unity.

"The purpose of inviting representative developing countries from different regions to this dialogue is to foster a broad network for developing partnerships and build a community of common development and a shared future," Xi said.

"We need to promote greater representation and voice of emerging market and developing countries in global economic governance, and foster an international economic order that is fairer and more equitable," he said.

During the dialogue, President Xi announced that China will provide 500 million U.S. dollars to support South-South cooperation.

The funds will be used for fellow developing countries to tackle challenges such as famine, refugees, climate change and public health, and China would also provide other developing countries with 40,000 training opportunities in China in the coming year.

The Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries is held during the BRICS Xiamen Summit in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. [Photo: meldingcloud.com.cn]

JOINTLY IMPLEMENTING 2030 AGENDA

Sustainable development is also high on the agenda of the dialogue.

"Development remains the top priority of emerging market and developing countries," the president said. 

These countries should implement their development strategies in the context of the sustainable development agenda and in light of their national conditions, he said.

The Chinese president urged the countries to persevere to find a sustainable development path featuring coordinated economic, social and environmental progress.

"The countries should call on the international community to place development high on the agenda of macro-economic policy coordination," Xi said. 

"The role of the UN should be leveraged, while efforts are needed to make good use of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to accelerate the implementation of the sustainable development agenda," he said.

"We need to urge developed countries to honor their commitment to increase support to developing countries in line with principles such as common but differentiated responsibilities," Xi said. 

MAIN ENGINE OF GLOBAL GROWTH

Calling the collective rise of the emerging market and developing countries "an irreversible trend of our times," Xi said such countries have made great contribution to global economic growth in recent years, accounting for 80 percent of global growth in 2016.

"They are worthy of the reputation as the main engine of global growth," Xi said. "At present, while the world economy is moving upward and international trade and investment is picking up, the new round of technological and industrial revolution is gaining momentum with new industries, new technologies and new business models springing up."

"From this point of view, emerging market and developing countries are faced with rare opportunities of development," Xi said. He called on them to "enhance solidarity and cooperation to jointly seize the historical opportunity arising from the adjustment of the world economic structure."

"The new round of technological and industrial revolution has created fresh impetus for growth. Seizing the opportunity, emerging market and developing countries could catch up by 'overtaking on a bend,'" he said. "Losing the opportunity, the divide between developed and developing countries could be wider and the development imbalance could worsen."

"Therefore, the emerging market and developing countries should dare to innovate and reform, and drastically push forward economic restructuring so as to unleash their internal growth power," Xi added.