China has pledged its full support and cooperation with developing countries by providing platforms for exchange of technology and knowledge. This was reaffirmed at the Sixth Global South-South Development Expo whereChinawas represented via the Shanghai-based South-South Global Asset and Technology Exchange (SS-GATE). The expo was hosted at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) headquarters inNairobi,Kenya, from October 28 to November 1, 2013.

The Nairobi 2013 Expo was organized by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation under the theme Building Inclusive Green Economies: South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication and showcased innovative local solutions to global problems.

At the expo,Beijingreaffirmed its willingness to share experiences to implement sustainable and scalable solutions toward green economies. Wu Xiaoqing, Vice Minister of Environmental Protection, said the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development works closely with SS-GATE to enable an exchange of knowledge and good practices across the developing world on key issues, such as environmental conservation, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. 

Presently, 112 countries and 25 UN agencies are connected to the SS-GATE, with Chinese members prominent among the more than 3,000 development experts and practitioners currently mobilized. Under SS-GATE, a large delegation of Chinese investors and partners were inNairobito lend technological and financial support to African companies interested in scaling up their operations. Among the deals clinched inNairobiwere building organic fertilizer factories and clean energy projects inKenya, building solar power plants inUgandaand green businesses for women inEgypt.

To helpChinashare its best practices concerning the environment and sustainable development,  SS-GATE Chief Executive Dr. Lin Jian said the organization facilitates business transactions through active market mechanisms, offering both online and offline services. The virtual and physical platform supports exchange of technology, assets and financial resources in a secure environment. Lin said the SS-GATE model has been adopted at regional and national levels in different languages for a wide scope of business transactions. During the expo, more than 40 companies were successfully matched and held business negotiations. Individuals and organizations who are prominent champions of South-South cooperation were also presented with awards.

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

Speaking at the expo, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner praisedChina’s contributions toward south-south cooperation through sound policies, enabling many developing countries to pursue a green approach toward sustainable development.

Meanwhile Zhou Yiping, Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, said SS-GATE has produced many inspiring initiatives. Zhou said global partnership for effective and sustainable development has spread to regional and sector wide chapters.

Ghana’s Energy and Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah told the Nairobi Expo that oil and gas have pauperized many countries. Consequently, many African producers have joined the South-South Energy Initiative (SSEI) to share technological, social, financial and commercial benefits of newfound oil and gas wealth.

“We are committed to developing and sharing the best know-how to minimize emissions and pollution from production. Under SSEI, members identify their own needs and decide among themselves how best to resolve oil and gas issues, including best use of energy resources in a world facing threats of climate change,” Amah-Kofi Buah said.

SS-GATE promotes economies of countries in the global south and has delivered many tangible developments, said former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa.   

“The examples of development solutions we see at this Nairobi Expo and in previous expos are examples that can be replicated and scaled up for downstream development,” he said.

(Reporting fromKenya)