UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan. UN chief pledges UN support for China-Africa partnership Economic Development
Joint efforts by China and Africa can give new impetus to economic and social development on the African continent, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.
The summit, which is held every three years, is expected to bring together leaders from more than 50 African countries.
Debt is an obstacle to development
The UN chief noted that the meeting is taking place against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, raging conflicts, growing poverty and hunger. He also pointed to specific contemporary challenges: conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, the worsening climate crisis, inequality and threats to global and regional efforts to achieve sustainable development.
Many African countries are mired in debt and are struggling to invest in sustainable development, António Guterres said.
Reforming an Outdated System
The UN Secretary-General recalled his proposals to reform the “outdated, ineffective and unfair international financial architecture” and develop a stimulus plan for developing countries seeking to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The plan includes increasing the lending capacity of multilateral development banks and enabling them to significantly expand available financing for developing countries. The UN chief stressed that support for these initiatives from China and Africa is critical.
Progress towards shared goals
Antonio Guterres recalled that China has long been Africa’s largest trading partner.
“In this context, South-South cooperation is essential to build capacity and achieve progress towards shared development goals, without in any way diminishing the responsibilities of the Global North,” Antonio Guterres said.
The UN chief described China’s partnership with the African continent as the foundation of South-South cooperation. This interaction includes the exchange of technology and skills among countries of the Global South.
Meeting Modern Challenges
Antonio Guterres stressed the need to “correct some historical injustices.” For example, he said it was “outrageous” that the African continent did not have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The Future Summit, to be held at UN Headquarters later this month, “will be a key opportunity for renewal and reform based on solidarity and justice.”
“We insist on reforms to ensure that the international financial architecture and institutions are in line with the realities of the modern world and can respond to the challenges of our time, especially those facing developing countries, particularly in Africa,” the Secretary-General said.
Concluding his remarks, António Guterres pledged “the full engagement of the United Nations in supporting a strong China-Africa partnership to achieve peace, sustainable development and human rights on a healthy planet.”