PM Skerrit urges global unity for sustainable development at BOAO Forum for Asia 2024

The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit addressed the opening ceremony of the prestigious BOAO Forum for Asia 2024 on Thursday in Boao, Hainan Province. He highlighted the urgent need for countries to unite in tackling current challenges.

During the address, PM Skerrit stressed the huge importance of collective strength and remarked that 'peace and sustainable development can only be achieved by mutual collaboration and cooperation'.

The Prime Minister highlighted that it is evident that sustainable development continues to be a pending issue for the international community, given the high levels of inequality, poverty, and marginalization among countries.

He highlighted that gross inequalities between developed and developing nations persist and are widening. "The unjust international economic order persists and is strengthened, and the devastating burden of which continues to be borne by the poorest countries," stressed the PM.

PM Roosevelt Skerrit continued to say that the effects of climate change threaten the existence of low lying developing island states and continue to destroy lives. He then called on everyone and said that, "We have the opportunity to move towards a change or era."

He said that the world has an option of continuing with the same patterns of production, energy and consumption that are no longer viable and cause terrible damage to the environment or assuming a new path that ponders sustainable and inclusive development with a long-term vision.

PM Skerrit added that for these reasons, the world leaders share the idea of development and it will not be sustainable unless it is inclusive of a resilience agenda.

In this regard, he said that he recognizes the role of Boao Forum and the People's Republic of China in providing development alternatives for other countries on the basis of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The global initiatives promoted by the People's Republic of China have created the necessary conditions to stimulate economic growth without harming the environment, noted the Dominican PM. He stated that they have been beneficial in actively assisting developing countries in their process of industrialization and access to digital technologies.

Dr Skerrit further mentioned the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping ten years ago and said that since its introduction states have expressed their support and appreciation for the this initiative through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms.

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The most tangible results of these have been seen in the areas of poverty reduction, food security, health corporation financing for development, climate change and green development, digital economy, and connectivity in the digital age, outlined the PM during the forum.

While appreciating the various enhancements made in China, PM Skerrit said that the country has created a development miracle that has astonished the world, and at the same time, it has made great contributions to the cause of global development.

Similarly, the Chinese government, in line with its short, medium and long term development goals and strategies, has continued to promote the holding of the Boao Forum to build a platform for cooperation with other countries, with a view to achieving a high quality economic development and a shared, prosperous future for humanity, said the Dominican leader.

Dr Roosevelt Skerrit further highlighted Dominica's commitment to becoming the world's first climate-resilient nation. "We have implemented a national strategy for resilience development," he noted.

These strategies include the Dominica's Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan 2030 and the Disaster Risk Financing Strategy, which together have defined a roadmap for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

He also mentioned that Dominica welcomes the exchange of experiences and international cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

In addition to this, the Prime Minister noted the good relations between Dominica and China and said that it is based on mutual respect, trust noninterference in each other's domestic affairs and win win cooperation.

"Dominica supports the one-China principle and continues to advocate for the peaceful reunification of Taiwan to a motherland, the People's Republic of China," remarked PM Skerrit.

The BOAO Asia Forum is convened yearly to expand political dialogue and international cooperation in the search for comprehensive and effective solutions to global problems.

This summit brings together international leaders to engage in political dialogue and foster global cooperation to address significant common challenges. The presence of Dominican delegation at the event outlines the significance of the bilateral relations between Dominica and China.