Geneva (VNA) – Vietnam highly valuesthe important role of the South Centre and continues supporting the centre in boostingcooperation between developing countries and implementing joint actions to handleglobal issues towards the realisation of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission ofVietnam to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other internationalorganisations, made the statement at the 21st meeting of the Council ofRepresentatives of the member States of the South Centre held online in Genevaon February 11.

Ambassador Mai expressed her thanks andcongratulated the Board, Executive Director and South Centre on their recent activitiesto support developing countries to effectively take part in international negotiationprocesses as well as build capacity at national and regional level, especiallypromote cooperation between developing countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemicand other global challenges, towards meeting SDGs.

She took this occasion to thank the centre and Executive Director Carlos Correafor their support to Vietnam to organise an online training seminar for Vietnameseexperts on intellectual property in pharmaceuticals last December amidst thepandemic.

She said in the COVID-19 fight, Vietnam has closely coordinated with ASEANmember countries and the international community to save patients, support vulnerablegroups and promote post-pandemic recovery.

At the meeting, Executive Director Carlos Carrea underlined the pandemic’simpacts on developing countries’ efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda and SDGsas well as the necessity to build multilateral consensus to cope with thecurrent health crisis, ensure vaccine distribution in a fair and equal mannerto developing countries, eliminate poverty, and meet other demands ofdeveloping countries in the post-pandemic period.

Correa shared the centre’s action plan for the 2021-23 period, focusing on enhancementof capacity for developing countries in South-South cooperation; improvement offinancial mobilisation and shifting to digital economy of developing countries;reform of WTO towards respecting multilateral commitments and encouraging preferencesfor developing countries; improvement of international investment regulations;promotion of international actions in coping with global challenges such asclimate change, biodiversification, human rights and other issues of sharedinterests of developing countries.

Chairperson of the centre for 2018-21 period Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki said in thecontext ò financial difficulties due to COVID-19, the centre still balance its budgetthanks contributions of the member countries and other assistance resources, sothat the centre’s operations are maintained.

Representatives of the centre’s countries congratulated the centre’sachievements over the past 25 years, while appreciating the centre’s role in promotingSouth-South cooperation, North-South dialogue, as well as promotingmultilateralism, response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges todeveloping countries.

The meeting also discussed priority orientations of the centre in the comingtime.

Established in 1995, the South Centre with headquarters in Geneva has 54 developingcountries, including Vietnam, as members./.