KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will continue to play its role in supporting developing countries, particularly in the Global South, in the commitment towards Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, said the foreign minister.
Acknowledging the widening gap between developing and developed nations, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, who delivered Malaysia’s statement at the G77+China Conference in Cuban capital Havana today, emphasised the need to strengthen the collective commitment and responsibility between the Global South and North.
As one of the founding members of the G77, Malaysia takes great pride in the progress achieved by G77+China in addressing critical issues for developing countries.
“The commitment and responsibility to narrow the priority gap in accelerating Agenda 2030 are much needed. Malaysia will continue to play its role in supporting developing countries or the Global South,” Zambry said in a statement issued by his ministry.
Zambry added that Malaysia has reaffirmed its commitment to South-South Cooperation through the renewal of the terms of cooperation with the International Science, Technology, and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) in Kuala Lumpur.
ISTIC has been under the auspices of Unesco since 2008. So far, ISTIC-KL has contributed to South-South Cooperation through more than 30 STI Training Programmes with strategic partners, benefiting more than 1,000 participants from nearly 100 countries.
Malaysia also launched the Malaysia Open Science Platform in May, aimed at fostering an open science culture, making scientific research and data accessible to all.
Malaysia will continue to welcome the participation of developing countries in the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), which serves as a platform for sharing experiences and expertise in development.
Since its establishment in 1980, MTCP has benefited more than 37,000 participants from 144 recipient countries.
To date, MTCP remains a strong manifestation of Malaysia’s commitment to South-South Cooperation, the statement added.
“Malaysia stands ready to work closely with G77+China and its members in the collective efforts towards sustainable economic development, security, and prosperity,” said Zambry.
G77+China is one of the largest intergovernmental organisations of developing countries within the United Nations, providing a platform for Southern countries to voice, promote, and advance their collective economic interests and cooperation for development.
Malaysia is among the founding members of this group. – September 17, 2023