Tanzanian president calls for action to tackle global North-South divide

Samia Suluhu Hassan

DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for concrete action to address the widening global North-South divide in a bid to create a just international economic order.

A statement issued late Thursday by the Directorate of Presidential Communications said President Hassan made the appeal during the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue, held on the sidelines of the Aug. 22-24 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

To this effect, the president urged fellow world leaders to deepen strategic partnerships in financial, trade, investment, and economic areas.

"In times like these, in which we face serious global challenges, the international community should be united, not fragmented, and should be willing to take collective measures in addressing issues of global concern, such as poverty, climate change, health, food insecurity, conflicts, and others," she said.

Hassan urged global leaders to find a way to address deeply-rooted and self-reinforcing structural problems, including the existing international financial architecture that inhibits developing states from accessing long-term and affordable financing for development.

The president also underscored the continued relevance and validity of multilateralism, which stands as a key pillar in addressing most of the global geopolitical challenges.

She commended the BRICS group of countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, for their efforts towards the advancement of the South-South as well as the African agenda for growth, development, and integration.