Suva Fiji, 25 November 2020: The PIDF Secretariat was represented by its Secretary General, Ambassador Solo Mara, in the Third Asia-Pacific Forum for South-South & Triangular Cooperation which was virtually on Wednesday and focussed on the Role of South-South Cooperation in Building Back Better from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia and the Pacific. The forum was organised jointly by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and their Partners.
Ambassador Mara in the panel discussion titled ‘Regional and Subregional responses promoting South-South cooperation in addressing COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific,’ highlighted that the global COVID-19 pandemic has caused unimaginable devastation to people’s lives, livelihoods and national economies. It has also offered an opportunity to reflect on our collective actions as a human race and their consequences on the one planet we live in.
“The challenge is in ensuring that the manner in which we build back better is founded on an inclusive sustainable “green growth” platform. That is, to identify how we can improve on the current economic model to protect our environment whilst delivering equitable sustainable growth for strong and resilient communities, “ said Ambassador Mara.
Moreover, Ambassador Mara re-emphasized that the pandemic has reinforced the importance of the supportive role that South-South and Triangular cooperation plays in creating resilient communities in the Asia Pacific region. PIDF would like to see this cooperation ramped up to assist PIC to address the socioeconomic and health challenges of COVID-19.
“Debt relief for the Pacific Islands is another area that must be considered by the international community as part of the COVID-19 response. The PIDF has made it a priority to highlight debt relief in our discussions with donor partners and with other international organizations. Such actions, will have a positive impact on PIC, enabling them to divert their resources to COVID-19 response and recovery to build back better. The Global South must continue to advocate strongly for this,” said Ambassador Mara.
Full Speech here: shorturl.at/ekoEZ
