29-04-2025
Arab, African Parliament Leaders Call for Comprehensive South-South Cooperation
Rabat — Participating in the Third South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum on April 28-29 in Rabat, Arab delegation heads stressed the vital importance of comprehensive cooperation among Southern nations to address current global challenges.
During the 'Presidents' Summit' held Monday at Morocco's House of Councillors, these regional leaders conveyed their awareness that coordination between Southern nations — particularly through their parliaments and legislative councils — is essential for overcoming multiple challenges and resolving various economic issues.
No longer optional, but urgent
The leaders were unanimous in their view that South-South cooperation has become a necessity given contemporary challenges related to climate change, security crises, economic difficulties, and advanced technologies affecting the world.
Representatives from Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar stressed that 'cooperation between Southern countries is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity in light of numerous global challenges.'
They also said that 'climate change and growing conflicts require unifying efforts and establishing strategic partnerships based on dialogue and constructive cooperation.'
Potential for global economic power
Arab Parliament President Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi offered a particularly comprehensive vision of South-South cooperation.
'Southern countries possess natural resources and human capabilities that qualify them to be among the world's strong economic powers and an influential voice in the global system,' Al-Yamahi said.
'However, they need optimal utilization of those resources and capabilities, and addressing challenges related to diverse economic systems to achieve regional integration and economic complementarity.'
He pointed out parliamentary economic diplomacy's importance through dialogue platforms like this forum.
He described the forum as 'an open platform to exchange experiences and expertise and explore ways to enhance strategic partnerships between Africa, Asia, the Arab world, and Latin America.'
Read also: South-South Cooperation: Morocco Calls for Increased Parliamentary Dialogue and Solidarity
Time for action
Al-Yamahi spoke of striking a sense of urgency and collective purpose when it comes to tackling some of the most pressing issues facing the Arab world.
'It is time to establish joint cooperation between Southern countries to implement projects concerning regional infrastructure to contribute to enhancing intra-trade movement and strengthening cooperation in health, education, food security, and other areas that form the basis of sustainable development,' he stressed.
Al-Yamahi further called for 'employing modern technology and artificial intelligence to transition to a digital economy,' noting that 'accelerating transformations in the global economy and worldwide trade wars impose on Southern countries the need to take serious and rapid steps to achieve economic integration based on mutual interests and win-win formulas.'
Redefining development strategies
Other speakers echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that 'Southern countries need to reformulate their development strategies and adopt flexibility to be competitive actors amid international transformation data.'
They called for cooperation 'to influence the international and regional environment while establishing partnerships in a world where visions, challenges, and opportunities intersect.'
The forum proved to be a platform for exchanging expertise and addressing challenges, and a historic opportunity to establish South-South dialogue and redefine the concept of cooperation between participating countries.
Participants focused on the role of parliaments in forging laws that represent the people. They recalled that 'parliaments are the voice of peoples, a guarantee of stability, and the engine of political, economic, and social integration for their countries.'
