Under the framework of Global South-South Development Center (GSSDC) Project, hosted by the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation, with funding support from the Government of China, the 28th Annual Meeting of the China South-South Cooperation Network was organized by the China International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE) in Kunming, China, from 28 to 29 February 2024. The event was attended by over 90 representatives from 50 member institutions of the China South-South Cooperation Network and United Nations partners.

Established in 1995, the China South-South Cooperation Network has expanded from a UNDP and UNIDO Assistance Projects to today’s network of 50 technical institutions, covering a wide range of technical areas including agricultural technology, biotechnology and fertilizer, clean and renewable energy, environmental protection, and industrial development. The Network has played a crucial role in promoting technical and economic cooperation between China and other developing countries.

This annual network meeting centered on new trends and challenges in South-South cooperation, and was cohosted with the Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences who is the lead institution of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Xiaojun Grace Wang, Trust Fund Director of UNOSSC, delivered a video message at the meeting, highlighting the findings and observations of the past four and half years of GSSDC project implementation and stakeholders’ perspectives gathered during next phase design consultations. She addressed the pressing priorities and challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasized the strong demands from developing countries for concrete and pragmatic support on the ground, as well as needs for technology cooperation and capacity development. Additionally, she underscored the pivotal role of South-South cooperation in accelerating progress towards these goals, advocating for enhanced policy coordination; and regional cooperation to address pressing global challenges.

Shenhong Yao, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Office of UNIDO, emphasized the potential for China to enhance the efficacy of South-South cooperation by tailoring its support to the evolving needs and development stages of Southern countries.

Yi Zhang, Deputy Director of CICETE, stressed China’s capacity to provide robust support for South-South cooperation, offering novel pathways for developing countries to realize the SDGs. He cautioned against the persistent challenges facing traditional South-South cooperation, urging innovation, digital transformation, and green development to address these challenges.

Puno Pema-Tenzin, Director of the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, underscored Yunnan’s pivotal role as a nexus of the Southern Silk Road, fostering connectivity and exchange across South Asia and Southeast Asia. He pledged continued cooperation with neighboring countries to address global challenges such as climate change, and to contribute to South-South cooperation and the development of the Green Silk Road.

The meeting also featured the good practice of effective integration of ecological restoration and comprehensive development, using the Red River Valley in Yunnan as an example. The development experience of the Red River Valley holds valuable lessons for developing countries in mountainous and plateau areas, mainly located in the Global South.

Additionally, key results achieved in South-South cooperation were showcased by the WFP China Centre of Excellence for Rural Transformation, China-Africa Business Council, and Jiangxi Province Institute of Ecological Civilization.

Representatives engaged in discussions on South-South cooperation through the lens of mountainous regions, with field visits to Kunming Botanical Garden and the Permanent Exhibition for Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 Achievement, enriching their understanding of biodiversity and ecological conservation efforts.