AASU ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION, SEPTEMBER 12
It is a fact that the International Cooperation has been characterized by imbalance economic relations between developing countries (South) and the industrialized ones (North) for years and until now. The South, under-developed and unending recipient of international aid, has been the propellant force for the development of the North by being, among others, the producer and supplier of raw materials at their own detriments to the developed countries of the North for their industries.
Hence the gap, between the North and the South, continues to widen and deepen to the point of becoming a serious threat to international peace and stability as it is manifested by the massive illegal migration of the young people from developing countries to the countries of the North and the apparition of the numerous and complex conflict centers around the World notably the insurgence of Islamist fundamentalism. It is, therefore imperative, to establish more just international economic relations in the interests of humanity. It is in this vein that South-South Cooperation, an important element of international cooperation for development, should be promoted and supported to enhance the development of developing countries and bring about a New World Order by reducing the existing Western dominance socially, economically and politically. It offers viable opportunities for developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development according to the United Nations.
To mark the importance of South-South Cooperation, the United Nations' General Assembly declared the observance of the International South-South Cooperation Day. Originally observed on December 19, the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation was moved to September 12 in 2011 to commemorate the date of the adoption, in 1978, of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.
South-South Cooperation is defined as “a broad framework for collaboration among countries of the South in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and technical domains. Involving two or more developing countries, it can take place on a bilateral, regional, sub regional or inter-regional basis.” Therefore the Developing countries must, first and foremost, shoulder the responsibility of promoting and the actual materialization of South-South Cooperation followed by the support of the International Community.
It is in the interest of the International Community that the developing countries strengthen their cooperation in order to enable them to come out of their economic, political and social doldrums. This will create a more conducive environment for peace, stability and job creation that can make it possible for the people particularly the youth to disabuse their minds of looking greener pastures elsewhere but rather stay at home and be active citizens in all the efforts aimed at developing their countries.
AASU hails recent developments in South-South Cooperation that have been characterized by increased volume of South-South trade, South-South flows of foreign direct investment, movement towards regional integration, technology transfers, sharing of solutions and experts, and other forms of exchanges.
Therefore the International Day for South-South Cooperation is, yet, another opportunity for African leaders to increase their efforts for the socio-economic and political integration of their continent. This has been the aims and dreams of the founding fathers of current African States and it is, also, dictated by not only the current developments in the World but the bare realities on the continent.
Lon live South-South Cooperation!
All for a united Africa!
AWAAH FRED
(Secretary General)
[email protected]/[email protected]/ 00233 (0)243101626