Aygun Aliyeva: Azerbaijan strives to strengthen its role as bridge between Global South and Global North

Azerbaijan is consistently striving to strengthen its role as a bridge between the Global South and the Global North, Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said during the opening ceremony of the founding conference of the Global South NGO Platform, according to Report.

"The concept of the Global South goes beyond mere geography. It embodies an economic, political, and social foundation. This foundation demands a new approach to global challenges and emphasizes the enduring importance of interregional solidarity. It is regrettable that a significant portion of the population living in the Global South continues to suffer from poverty, the adverse effects of climate change, colonial legacy, the digital divide, trade inequality, and other systemic issues. As a trustworthy and responsible member of the international community, Azerbaijan is consistently committed to serving as a bridge between the Global South and the Global North," she said.

According to Aliyeva, by hosting the prestigious COP29 conference last year, Azerbaijan made a significant contribution to global efforts to combat the impacts of climate change.

"The COP29 Conference also marked an important milestone for Azerbaijan’s civil society. Both the Agency for State Support to NGOs and representatives of local NGOs were part of the Conference's organizing committee. As you are well aware, the COP held in Baku was notable for the active participation of nearly 10,000 NGO representatives. During COP29, the Agency launched a major competition for Azerbaijani NGOs, giving them the opportunity to implement projects aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change in collaboration with international partners. As a result of this competition, several successful projects and initiatives were carried out," she noted.

Aygun Aliyeva emphasized that the Global South CSO Platform will become an important venue for discussing key and global issues.