Qatar participated in the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative on the sideline of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Qatar was represented in the meeting by HE the Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater.
In her speech, HE the Assistant FM praised the efforts made by China through its launch of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), which contributes to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
She said that the increase in the group of friends sends a positive and strong signal from the international community about the importance of the GDI basic concepts and principles, which pays special attention to the development and the main role of global development partnerships. She explained that Covid-19 remains a huge challenge, pointing out that it has exacerbated current needs and challenges such as poverty, the effects of climate change, conflict and food insecurity in a way that threaten to undermine progress made in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
She added that despite the existing challenges, collective efforts and global partnerships continue to play a vital role in addressing these challenges and responding to the growing needs. She affirmed that Qatar places development at the top of its priorities, noting that it has not limited its efforts only to the national level, but has continued its endeavours as an effective partner at the international level, recognising the importance of multilateral co-operation.
HE the Assistant FM pointed out that Qatar continues to provide its contributions at the international level, noting that the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), in 2021, contributed more than $551mn at the international level in the field of development and humanitarian aid, as it worked to direct these amounts through its partners, including multilateral institutions.
QFFD also continued to make unremitting efforts to mitigate the Covid-19 effects, especially those who live in vulnerable communities.
She said that based on the belief that achieving the ambitious aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will not be possible without paying special attention to the least developed countries, Qatar is honoured to host the second part of the Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha from March 5 to 9, 2023, adding that this conference will make a major contribution to promoting the sustainable development of those countries.
She reiterated the possibility of relying on the support of Qatar in order to ensure the continuation of the group of friends to contribute to global development and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Plan.
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