South-South Embrace

　　China has pledged its full support and cooperationwith developing countries by providing platforms for exchangeof technology and knowledge. This was reaffirmedat the Sixth Global South-South Development Expo whereChina was represented via the Shanghai-based South-SouthGlobal Asset and Technology Exchange (SS-GATE). The expowas hosted at the United Nations Environment Program(UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi， Kenya， from October 28 toNovember 1， 2013.

　　The Nairobi 2013 Expo was organized by the United NationsOffice for South-South Cooperation under the themeBuilding Inclusive Green Economies： South-South Cooperationfor Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradicationand showcased innovative local solutions to global problems.

　　At the expo， Beijing reaffirmed its willingness to shareexperiences to implement sustainable and scalable solutionstoward green economies. Wu Xiaoqing， Vice Ministerof Environmental Protection， said the China Council forInternational Cooperation on Environment and Developmentworks closely with SS-GATE to enable an exchange ofknowledge and good practices across the developing worldon key issues， such as environmental conservation， povertyalleviation and sustainable development.

　　Presently， 112 countries and 25 UN agencies are connectedto the SS-GATE， with Chinese members prominentamong the more than 3，000 development expertsand practitioners currently mobilized. Under SS-GATE， alarge delegation of Chinese investors and partners were inNairobi to lend technological and financial support to Africancompanies interested in scaling up their operations. Amongthe deals clinched in Nairobi were building organic fertilizerfactories and clean energy projects in Kenya， building solarpower plants in Uganda and green businesses for women inEgypt.

　　To help China share its best practices concerning theenvironment and sustainable development， SS-GATEChief Executive Dr. Lin Jian said the organization facilitatesbusiness transactions through active market mechanisms，offering both online and offline services. The virtual andphysical platform supports exchange of technology， assetsand financial resources in a secure environment. Lin said theSS-GATE model has been adopted at regional and nationallevels in different languages for a wide scope of businesstransactions. During the expo， more than 40 companieswere successfully matched and held business negotiations.

　　Individuals and organizations who are prominentchampions of South-South cooperation were also presentedwith awards.

　　UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson reaffirmed theUN’s commitments to innovative and inclusive partnerships.He told the Nairobi Expo that the global body， with help fromChina among other partners， is committed to low carbon，resource efficient and socially inclusive economic growth.“We envisage SS-GATE to contribute to growth in incomeand employment driven by investments that reduce carbonemissions and pollution， enhance energy efficiency andprevent loss of biodiversity and ecosystems，” he said.

　　Speaking at the expo， UNEP Executive Director AchimSteiner praised China’s contributions toward south-southcooperation through sound policies， enabling many developingcountries to pursue a green approach toward sustainabledevelopment.

　　Meanwhile Zhou Yiping， Director of the UN Office forSouth-South Cooperation， said SS-GATE has produced manyinspiring initiatives. Zhou said global partnership for effectiveand sustainable development has spread to regional andsector wide chapters.

　　Ghana’s Energy and Petroleum Minister EmmanuelArmah-Kofi Buah told the Nairobi Expo that oil and gas havepauperized many countries. Consequently， many Africanproducers have joined the South-South Energy Initiative(SSEI) to share technological， social， financial and commercialbenefits of newfound oil and gas wealth.

　　“We are committed to developing and sharing thebest know-how to minimize emissions and pollution fromproduction. Under SSEI， members identify their own needsand decide among themselves how best to resolve oil andgas issues， including best use of energy resources in a worldfacing threats of climate change，” Amah-Kofi Buah said.SS-GATE promotes economies of countries in the globalsouth and has delivered many tangible developments， saidformer Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa.

　　“The examples of development solutions we see at thisNairobi Expo and in previous expos are examples that can bereplicated and scaled up for downstream development，” hesaid.