Interview: China's aid to less developed nations will help meet poverty reduction goals: Mexican academic

China's pledge of billions of U.S. dollars in aid and investment to less developed countries, as part of South-South cooperation, will help meet key poverty reduction targets, a Mexican academic has said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's pledge of 2 billion U.S. dollars to support South-South cooperation and assist developing countries, will support developing nations' efforts to achieve UN-designated post-2015 development goals, Pia Taracena Gout, expert on international relations at Mexico City's Ibero-American University

"President Xi's speech to the world at UN headquarters was very positive and very significant," Taracena told Xinhua in an interview. "It's clear that we need leadership, and joint leadership, in various matters that affect the globe, such as development."

The announcement, which also made clear that China is assuming the responsibilities that come with playing a larger role on the world stage, "was definitely a welcome one," she said.

In addition to the aid, Xi said China will strive to increase its investment in the least developed countries to 12 billion dollars by 2030, the deadline set by the UN for meeting a new set of development goals that aim to eradicate poverty in 15 years.

Xi called on countries to follow a more socially equal and open path to development that is driven by innovation, and stressed that no nation should be left behind.

His words, Taracena said, invite countries to "make progress along the right path, guided by fundamental principles such as the rule of law and respect."

At the UN summit, countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. World leaders, such as Xi, can help bolster the international community's push toward common goals designed to improve living standards and give more care to the environment, Taracena said.

"I definitely believe that in these types of forums, world leaders can strengthen the commitment," she said. Endi