Forum on cooperation in developing countries held in HK

The high-level forum on South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development kicked off in Hong Kong on July 18, highlighting the nexus between information and communication technology(ICT), innovation, culture and sustainable urbanization.

The annual forum, which responds to the call to highlight the role of partnerships, South-South and triangular cooperation, and ICT in the context of the post-2015 development agenda, brought together UN and high-level government officials, business leaders and representatives of the civil society and academia.

"We have all witnessed a dramatic global transmission in the past decade, which has brought a new, unprecedented and increasingly complex social economic and environmental pressure, challenges and concerns to the forefront," said John W. Ash, President of UN General Assembly High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation.

"Responding to these challenges, we require new forms of collaboration, innovation and in particular partnership," John said and emphasized that what is urgently needed is demonstrated leadership, strengthened efforts and created measures that can address sustainable development needs and transform complex challenges and concerns into sustainable opportunities and options for the development.

The International Organization for South-South Cooperation(IOSSC) is to serve as a facilitator for follow-up actions on these recommendations by bringing together stakeholders with the aim to develop a powerful platform for South-South cooperation to spur ICT innovations and generate investment opportunities and job creation.

"We have successful cases on sustainable development as well as some problems," said James Jiang, Chairman of IOSSC Asia-Pacific Committee. "So in the future we will focus on the enforcement and cooperation among developing countries, particularly in communication, tourism, urbanization and transportation," he added.

By acting as an active player, Asia will help reinforce cooperation and create investment opportunities especially in infrastructure and minerals areas among developed courtiers, BRICS as well as developing countries, Jiang said.

The forum also supported the recommendation that an international e-Government Training Center, among others, should be created for countries of the Global South.