IBSA ministers adopt declaration to contribute to South-South co-op

Foreign Ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA), a tri-nation bloc working to deepen coordination among them on major global issues, have exchanged views and adopted a declaration to contribute to greater understanding of development and South-South Cooperation (SSC).

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu and Brazil's Deputy Foreign Minister Marcos Galvao met here yesterday for the informal meeting of IBSA Foreign Ministers, said a joint press release issued today.

"They exchanged views on Development Cooperation and South-South Cooperation," it said.

The ministers adopted the IBSA Declaration on South-South Cooperation, to contribute to greater understanding of development cooperation as a common endeavor of the Global South.

IBSA has, over the years, emerged as a grouping supporting welfare and developmental concerns for the Global South, which have been pursued in the spirit of access, equity and inclusion, said the IBSA Declaration on SSC.

"IBSA calls upon the global North to honour its ODA commitments fully, scale up existing resources and commit additional resources to provide the necessary means to implement SDGs," the declaration said.

Stating that respect for national sovereignty is at the core of SSC, it said, "IBSA believes that the primary responsibility towards development rests with the States themselves under their ownership and leadership."