Guterres Calls on Developed Countries to Fulfill Promise, Support Developing Nations

A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)
A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)
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Guterres Calls on Developed Countries to Fulfill Promise, Support Developing Nations

A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)
A memorial photo of the leaders of the countries participating in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha (Reuters)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the need to reform the global financial system and urged international financial institutions to devise ways to provide financing. He also urged developed countries to provide support to vulnerable nations to raise their ability to confront and adapt to climate change and allow a smooth transition to renewable energy.

To provide the necessary support, Guterres urged developed countries to fulfil their $100 billion promise to developing countries.

Speaking at the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, taking place in the Qatar capital from 5 to 9 March, Guterres announced that he will host a Climate Ambition Summit at UN Headquarters in September to move from words to action and “to deliver climate justice to those on the frontlines of the crisis”.

The anticipated summit will offer an opportunity for international solidarity in confronting climate change and provide financial and technical support to ensure the transition of emerging economies to renewable energy sources.

Guterres stressed that LDCs are stuck in a wave of crises, uncertainty, climate chaos and historical global injustice, and are unable to catch up with the rapid technological changes.

Systems employed in LDCs are stretched or non-existent – from health and education to social protection, infrastructure, and job creation, noted the UN chief.

He said that the global financial system, created by wealthy countries to serve their own interests, is extremely unfair to LDCs, who must pay interest rates that can be eight times higher than those in developed countries.

“Today, 25 developing economies are spending over 20% of government revenues solely on servicing debt,” said Guterres.

In the face of such deep challenges, the UN chief stated that the LDCs “need a revolution of support” across three key areas.

The three areas mentioned by Guterres include immediate aid to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide an incentive package for the SDGs, and provide at least $500 billion annually to developing countries.

For his part, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, affirmed that there is a shared global responsibility in facing the challenges of food security, climate change, the energy crisis, and the debt crisis.

The Gulf State leader reiterated the need for international solidarity in combating crises worldwide.

“There is a moral obligation incumbent upon the rich and developed countries to contribute more to assist the least developed countries to overcome the global challenges we are now dealing with,” the Emir noted.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the need to reform the global financial system and urged international financial institutions to devise ways to provide financing. He also urged developed countries to provide support to vulnerable nations to raise their ability to confront and adapt to climate change and allow a smooth transition to renewable energy.

To provide the necessary support, Guterres urged developed countries to fulfil their $100 billion promise to developing countries.

Speaking at the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, taking place in the Qatar capital from 5 to 9 March, Guterres announced that he will host a Climate Ambition Summit at UN Headquarters in September to move from words to action and “to deliver climate justice to those on the frontlines of the crisis”.

The anticipated summit will offer an opportunity for international solidarity in confronting climate change and provide financial and technical support to ensure the transition of emerging economies to renewable energy sources.

Guterres stressed that LDCs are stuck in a wave of crises, uncertainty, climate chaos and historical global injustice, and are unable to catch up with the rapid technological changes.

Systems employed in LDCs are stretched or non-existent – from health and education to social protection, infrastructure, and job creation, noted the UN chief.

He said that the global financial system, created by wealthy countries to serve their own interests, is extremely unfair to LDCs, who must pay interest rates that can be eight times higher than those in developed countries.

“Today, 25 developing economies are spending over 20% of government revenues solely on servicing debt,” said Guterres.

In the face of such deep challenges, the UN chief stated that the LDCs “need a revolution of support” across three key areas.

The three areas mentioned by Guterres include immediate aid to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide an incentive package for the SDGs, and provide at least $500 billion annually to developing countries.

For his part, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, affirmed that there is a shared global responsibility in facing the challenges of food security, climate change, the energy crisis, and the debt crisis.

The Gulf State leader reiterated the need for international solidarity in combating crises worldwide.

“There is a moral obligation incumbent upon the rich and developed countries to contribute more to assist the least developed countries to overcome the global challenges we are now dealing with,” the Emir noted.



Saudi Crown Prince Hails Extraordinary Efforts to Host Hajj

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Hails Extraordinary Efforts to Host Hajj

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, hailed on Tuesday the extraordinary efforts that went into hosting this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Chairing a cabinet meeting in Jeddah, he praised the concerned parties in ensuring that the pilgrims had a smooth journey and were able to perform the Hajj at ease.

He thanked God Almighty for bestowing upon Saudi Arabia the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques and in organizing the Hajj and Umrah.

The cabinet was briefed on the talks and contacts held between Saudi Arabia and various friendly countries over the past week that were aimed at consolidating relations and cooperation in all fields.

The cabinet also reviewed the outcomes of the Kingdom's participation in several regional and international gatherings.

Such participation is in line with the Kingdom's commitment to supporting multilateral approaches and collective efforts aimed at resolving crises in the region and the world, achieving international security and stability, and creating conditions conducive to development and prosperity.

The cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's strong efforts on both political and humanitarian fronts to halt Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. It noted the Kingdom's international efforts to support initiatives aimed at gaining further global recognition of the State of Palestine, as well as its ongoing provision of relief aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

On domestic affairs, the cabinet highlighted the launch of the Geographic Survey Project for Renewable Energy sites in the Kingdom, which is the first of its kind globally.

The project reflects the Kingdom's commitment to achieving ambitious national targets in renewable energy production, contributing to the optimal energy mix for electricity generation and displacing liquid fuel use, and supporting the Kingdom's goal of exporting electric power and producing clean hydrogen.

The cabinet highlighted the awarding of contracts for the second phase of the Jafurah natural-gas field project development program and the third phase of the main gas network expansion project in the Kingdom.

These developments fall within the continued development and economic diversification efforts, utilizing the comparative advantages that the Kingdom enjoys, and strengthening its leadership position in global energy markets.

It noted the new discoveries of oil and natural gas made by the Saudi Aramco in the Eastern Region and the Empty Quarter.

The cabinet commended the progresses and successes the Human Capability Development Program and National Industrial Development and Logistics Program have achieved and their contributions to boosting the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and its status as a leading international industrial powerhouse and logistics hub.

Moreover, the cabinet noted the results listed in the World Competitiveness Yearbook Report for 2024, regarding the Kingdom’s advancement to the 16th rank among the most competitive countries in the world, and its achievement of the first positions in a number of sub-indexes, supported by improved business legislation and infrastructure, a thriving economy, and a society that interacts with the world.