13 April 2014: The Third High-Level Forum on South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development, held in Hong Kong, China, addressed new models and mechanisms for regional cooperation and public-private partnerships. A Chair’s summary will feed into the UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Event on the Contributions of North-South, South-South, Triangular Cooperation, and ICT for Development to the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, taking place in May.

The Forum had as its theme ‘South-South Cooperation, ICT and Financing for Sustainable Development,’ and was convened by the South-South Steering Committee for Sustainable Development (SS-SCSD).

In opening remarks, John Ashe, UNGA President, noted that achievement of future Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be accelerated by spearheading action on existing goals and targets on information and communication technology (ICT) for development, such as by significantly increasing access to telecommunication services and providing 100% internet access to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by 2020. Ashe said the May event will focus on mobilizing political commitments for the means of implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, and will promote the scaling up of the impact of all forms of cooperation.

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) launched the SS-SCSD at its Operational Activities for Development Segment in February 2014. [SS-SCSD Website] [Meeting Webpage] [UNGA President’s Remarks]