The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the 17th of which is “Partnerships for the goals,” namely: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Under this major goal, there are 19 targets, the 17.6 of which is “By 2030, Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation.”
Significant progress has been made in South-South and triangular cooperationSouth-South cooperation is done through abroad framework of collaboration among countries of the South in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and technical domains. Through South-South collaboration, developing countries share knowledge, skills, expertise and resources to meet their development goals through concerted efforts. Another modality of South-South cooperation is Triangular cooperation, a collaboration in which traditional donor countries and multilateral organizations facilitate South-South initiatives through the provision of funding, training, management and technological systems, as well as other forms of support.Photo: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia UniversityBased on the survey conducted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in 2023, requests by member state governments for support from the United Nations system on South-South and/or triangular cooperation rose steadily from 53 percent in 2022 to 61 percent in 2023. Thirty-five percent of governments indicated that they had received support from the United Nations system in establishing or strengthening national institutions engaged in South-South and triangular cooperation.Currently, about 2.6 billion people, mostly women and girls, are still not connected to the Internet owing to the lack of digital infrastructure and/or the related high costs. In low-income countries, only 48 percent of the population is digitally connected and only 12 percent has fixed broadband access. And the quality of Internet service can be between two and five times worse than the equivalent in higher income countries. Therefore, many United Nations organizations intensified their support to member states to buttress digital literacy, e-connectivity, digital governance and e-trade through gender-inclusive South-South and triangular cooperation.Source: UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report on the status of South-South cooperation, Infrastructure InvestorChina leads the Belt and Road initiative on green energyOn October 23, 2024, the Third Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference hosted by China’s National Energy Administration was successfully held in Qingdao, Shandong. Energy ministers from across the world spoke highly of China’s role in promoting global energy transition and helping developing countries access more affordable clean energies.The Belt and Road Energy Partnership (BREP) is an initiative launched by the National Energy Administration of China to support countries in formulating more ambitious green energy development plans based on their own energy endowments and development needs, so as to continuously improve the reliability and resilience of green energy supply. During the meeting, the member states of the Belt and Road Energy Partnership jointly held an expansion ceremony, and Iran became the 34th member state.A view of a Chinese-invested power project in South Africa. Photo: China DailyThe Belt and Road Green Energy Cooperation Action Plan (2024-29) released at the meeting proposes that member countries will carry out no less than five joint R&D projects and no less than five cooperation in areas such as hydrogen energy, new types of energy storage, advanced nuclear power, carbon capture, utilization and storage. In the next five years, BREP members will carry out no less than 25 capacity-building projects in the energy sector, and explore the establishment of an international cooperative research platform for clean energy, the action plan noted.Pacific island countries work together to promote renewable energy transitionEstablished in 2017, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a US$150 million financial mechanism to support innovative, South-driven, demand-responsive and transformative sustainable development initiatives in developing countries. It is worth mentioning that in just six years, the fund has nurtured 66 development projects and worked with 56 developing countries through 12 UN entities.In November 2023, the fund launched a demonstration project for the promotion of renewable energy in the Pacific region. By the first quarter of 2024, the project has installed and delivered solar PV systems at 12 locations in Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, and has conducted on-site training for 74 staff members, with the aim of equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively operate and maintain solar PV systems.Merck supports the development of an mRNA vaccine technology platform in AfricaMerck, a global leading science and technology company, announced that its Life Science business sector entered a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Afrigen Biologics to support the development of an mRNA vaccine technology platform. The collaboration is aimed at advancing mRNA platform manufacturing capabilities, scaling up production, optimizing processes, and providing troubleshooting expertise. As part of the MoU, Merck will support Afrigen’s Center of Excellence and training initiatives aimed at building capacity in LMICs to produce mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.Photo: Pharmaceutical Technology“Leveraging our comprehensive chemical portfolio and custom production capabilities, we offer cutting-edge experience for mRNA manufacturing, ensuring a seamless journey from research to production,” said Bert de Vet, head of Commercial EMEA Process Solutions, Life Science business sector of Merck. “Our alliance with Afrigen for mRNA technology platform development echoes our commitment to fostering equitable access to life-saving therapies for global health.”China-Africa-UNIDO of Excellence inauguratedOn July 12, 2024, the director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Gerd Müller, the chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Luo Zhaohui, and the Ethiopian minister of industry, Melaku Alebel, officially inaugurated the China-Africa-UNIDO Centre of Excellence located in Addis Ababa during their mission to China. The center is a pioneering tripartite initiative, to promote sustainable industrialization, agricultural modernization, and skills development across Africa. The initiative is the first tripartite flagship program of its kind, between Ethiopia, CIDCA and the UN agency.
The Joint Declaration for the Center of Excellence Program that was signed on this occasion highlights the ambitions for a long-term development of the program. The center aims to align with strategic frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Ethiopia’s Ten-Year Development Plan, contributing to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.ZTE deeply involved in African digital marketIn September 2024, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit was held in Beijing. ZTE Chairman Li Zixue attended and delivered a speech, introducing ZTE’s achievements in promoting digitalization and new industrialization in Africa and future cooperation plans.In terms of promoting digital inclusion, ZTE has achieved large-scale pilot projects in many African countries such as Ethiopia, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo through innovative rural and remote area coverage solutions, effectively narrowing the digital divide between urban and rural areas. At the same time, ZTE is committed to accelerating the modernization of Africa’s industry and will effectively promote the local manufacturing and skills transfer of ZTE terminal sand even system products to promote local employment and high-tech talent training.
Photo: ZTE
In the same month, MTN South Africa and ZTE Corporation have made a groundbreaking advancement by launching Africa’s first 5G Ultra-range maritime offshore coverage in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. This groundbreaking initiative promises to revolutionize maritime connectivity, enhance tourism, and significantly boost the economic prospects of local fishermen. The network currently covers 44% of South Africa’s population, a significant increase from 25% last year. MTN and ZTE will continue to expand their 5G network to ensure that more communities benefit from high-speed Internet access.
Source: ZTE, Digital Watch
●Background
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations
On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change while ensuring that no one is left behind.
