At the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries in New York, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar highlighted the uncertain global scenario shaped by COVID shocks, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, climate extremes, volatile trade, and slowing SDGs. He emphasized that the rights and expectations of developing nations are facing serious challenges in the international system.
00:00The state of the world is a cause for mounting concern for member states.
00:05They include the shocks of the COVID pandemic, two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza,
00:13extreme climate events, volatility in trade, uncertainty in investment flows and interest
00:22rates, and the catastrophic slowing down of the SDG agenda. In face of such proliferation
00:29of concerns and multiplicity of risks, it is natural that the global south would turn
00:35to multilateralism for solutions. Unfortunately, there too we are presented with a very disappointing
00:43prospect. The very concept of multilateralism is under attack. Thank you all for joining us
00:50this afternoon. We meet in increasingly uncertain times when the state of the world is a cause for
01:01mounting concern for member states. The global south, in particular, is confronted with a set
01:09of challenges which have heightened in the first half of this decade. They include the shocks of
01:16the COVID pandemic, two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, extreme climate events, volatility in
01:26trade, uncertainty in investment flows and interest rates, and the catastrophic slowing down of the SDG
01:35agenda. Most of all, the rights and expectations of developing countries in the international system,
01:43which has been so assiduously developed over many, many decades, are today under challenge.
01:52In face of such proliferation of concerns and multiplicity of risks, it is natural that the
01:59global south would turn to multilateralism for solutions. Unfortunately, there too we are presented
02:07with a very disappointing prospect. The very concept of multilateralism is under attack. International
02:15organizations are being rendered ineffective or starved of resources. The building blocks of the
02:22contemporary order are starting to come apart, and the costs of delaying much-needed reforms is today
02:30starkly visible. So, as like-minded global south countries, we today approach world affairs united and
02:41through a broad set of principles and concepts, and these include, one, fair and transparent economic
02:49practices that democratize production and enhance economic security. A stable environment for balanced and
02:58sustainable economic interactions, including more south-south trade investment and technology
03:05collaborations. Resilient, reliable, and shorter supply chains that would reduce dependence on any single
03:15supplier or on any single market. An urgent resolution of conflicts that are impacting food, fertilizer, and energy
03:25security. The protection of global commons, including addressing maritime shipping concerns, HADR
03:32situations, environmental challenges, etc. A collaborative leveraging of technology for development, especially the
03:41creation of a digital public infrastructure. And a fair and level playing field in different domains that do
03:48justice to the development concerns of global south. Excellencies, friends, to get to get there, India would propose the
03:58following points for your collective consideration. One, we utilize existing forums to strengthen
04:05consultations among global south with a view to enhance solidarity and encourage collaboration. Two, bring to the table
04:14specific strengths, experiences, and achievements that we may have individually developed, but which can actually
04:23benefit fellow global south members. Some good examples of these are vaccine production, digital capabilities,
04:32education capacities, agro practices, and SME culture. Three, in areas like climate action and climate justice,
04:44come up with initiatives that serve the global south rather than justify the global north. Four, discuss the promise of
04:53technologies on the horizon, especially AI. And five, reform the United Nations and multilateralism as a whole. So, with those thoughts, I look forward to hearing from you all. And once again, I really thank you. I think all of us
05:13know what a busy time this is that we move from meeting to meeting. And I think any time which any of us commit is a
05:23is a statement in itself. So, again, I want to say how pleased I am to see you all this evening. And back to you.
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