Chairing a high-level meeting of Global South countries on the sidelines of UNGA, external affairs minister S Jaishankar stressed the need to work towards food and energy security, fair economic and trade practices, while rejecting supply chain and connectivity choke points.Stressing the importance of pending global governance reforms, he said the world was witnessing dismantling of multilateralism at a time when developing countries were turning towards it.“Now the fact is also that institutions created for a different era continue to reflect the power structures of that era, and Global South today may be in the front row of global crises, but is in the back row of decision-making,” said Jaishankar, adding for Global South there has never been a moment as critical as right now for solidarity.He said energy security is at the heart of development, and availability and prices should not be manipulated for political ends. The EAM was addressing a high-level meeting of like-minded Global South nations and friends under the theme of ‘Navigating Together Towards a Brighter Future – the Compelling Case for an Empowered Global South’.The participants discussed the challenges Global South countries are facing, including ongoing conflicts’ impact on energy security, volatility in trade and investment flows, concerns of seafarers in ongoing conflicts. They also expressed concern over the weakening of multilateral institutions while emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive UN reforms.Jaishankar underlined the need to ensure fair economic and trade practices that can enhance developing countries’ production capabilities. “Our right to industrialise must not be denied,” he said.
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He also raised the issue of safety of seafarers, saying the maritime commons must be secured, international law observed, and safety and security of seafarers and commercial shipping guaranteed.Jaishankar underlined that the transformation being brought about by AI must not create new divides. “We could share indigenously developed tools and frameworks for the benefit of Global South members, and ensure that AI remains human-centric,” he said.He also suggested closer economic cooperation among Global South as a necessary buffer against the fallout of overlapping global crises.
