Baku: "The General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform holds special significance within this year's WUF13," Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation Dima Al-Khatib said in her video address to participants of the first General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform held within the framework of Baku Urban Week, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Al-Khatib emphasized the unique timing of the platform's convening, noting its presence in a significant global urbanism setting. She underscored the necessity for a more connected and influential civil society voice in shaping the global urban development agenda.

Al-Khatib highlighted the indispensable role of civil society in the development of South-South cooperation. She stated that NGOs contribute valuable local knowledge, form trusted relationships, and offer practical innovations, transforming solutions into tangible impacts.

Inclusive cooperation, she noted, is crucial in addressing challenges such as urban resilience, climate change, and inequality. She stressed the importance of active participation from the least developed countries, small island states, and landlocked countries in the platform.

Al-Khatib also mentioned a new cooperation initiative established by her institution, describing it as a multilateral platform that brings together diverse partners, solutions, and financing opportunities. She noted a strong alignment between this initiative and the Global South Platform, with both aiming to showcase the leadership, knowledge, and solutions of developing countries.