South-South cooperation important to sustain development efforts of developing countries

South-South cooperation should be a strategy to sustain the development efforts of developing countries and enhance their participation in the global economy, an Iran senior official said on Monday.

The developing countries suffer from deeply rooted inequities and injustices at the global level, said Ebrahim Rahimpour, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran, in the Ministerial Meeting of the Asian-African Conference.

"As we celebrate this 60th anniversary, we face challenges that undermine our efforts to attain development and peace," he said.

The international economic and financial crisis continues to negatively impact developing countries, which coincides with unrelenting tendency on the part of the developed countries take decisions that affect the world economy outside the multilateral frameworks, said the deputy minister.

Developed countries resorting to coercive economic practices, like economic sanctions are becoming more rampant, he said.

Changing this setting requires enhanced coordination among all developing countries, he said, adding that South-South cooperation has become all the more imperative in this age of globalization.

Ministers from Asian and African countries met here on Monday, pledging to implement the Bandung Spirit, which highlights the South-South cooperation.

The Indonesian foreign ministry said 33 heads of state and government as well as representatives from 77 countries have confirmed the attendance at the summit and the Commemoration of the 60th Asian- African Conference which was slated for April 24. Endi