Morocco takes lead in South-South cooperation guided by King Mohammed VI

Wednesday 28 May 2025 - 09:32

By: Zahouani Ilham

Morocco takes lead in South-South cooperation guided by King Mohammed VI

Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, announced that Morocco is assuming leadership of the UN Committee on South-South Cooperation, aligning its efforts with the strategic vision of King Mohammed VI.

Speaking at the opening of the committee’s 22nd session in New York, Hilale emphasized that Morocco will champion the principles of solidarity, mutual respect, and shared prosperity to advance collaboration among developing nations.

He outlined Morocco’s approach to foreign policy, which prioritizes South-South cooperation, particularly with African, Latin American, Caribbean, and Pacific nations. This model, he noted, places collaborative development at the core of Morocco’s international engagements.

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner praised King Mohammed VI’s dedication to fostering South-South cooperation, stating that the UNDP remains committed to supporting Morocco’s initiatives in this field. Steiner highlighted the growing relevance of such cooperation in tackling development challenges through shared knowledge and innovation among developing nations.

Hilale also acknowledged that Morocco’s presidency comes during a challenging global context marked by geopolitical tensions and declining development funding. He pointed out that many developing countries face exclusion from international financial systems.

The ambassador clarified that South-South cooperation is not meant to replace North-South partnerships but to enhance them by reinforcing global solidarity. He emphasized the role of trilateral cooperation as an effective mechanism to maximize resources and technical expertise for development.

Hilale commended the collaborative efforts between Morocco and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, led by Dima Al-Khatib, highlighting her important contribution to advancing the committee’s mission.

The session, running through Friday, is expected to conclude with the adoption of a resolution that will be presented to the UN General Assembly.