Doha conference will help LDCs address grave challenges: FM

Qatar Saturday expressed hope that the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which opens Sunday in Doha, will constitute a milestone toward fulfilling the commitment of the Doha Programme of Action toward the least developed countries (LDCs) and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with LDCs, considering the conference a historical opportunity for participating parties to reaffirm their commitment to constructive cooperation and multilateral action to support the LDCs in addressing the grave challenges.This came at a speech of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani before the Summit of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group on the sidelines of the LDC5 conference, with the participation of President of the Republic of Malawi and Chair of the LDC Group under the UN Lazarus Chakwera, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a number of representatives of the countries participating in the conference and the international organisations.HE Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar's initiative to host the conference from March 5-9, stemmed from its belief in the need to pay more attention to responding to the needs of the LDCs.He added that the participants have a historical opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to constructive cooperation and multilateral action, support the LDCs in addressing the grave challenges, and continue the positive momentum and spirit of solidarity that characterised the unanimous adoption of the Doha Programme of Action.HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed Qatar's aspiration that the coming five days represent a once-in-a-decade historical opportunity for meaningful collective change.He Sheikh Mohammed stressed Qatar's keenness to continue supporting the LDCs, in cooperation with its partners around the world.In this regard, he pointed out the allocation of a large part of Qatar's international development assistance to these countries.At the beginning of his speech, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked the President of Malawi for his kind invitation to convene this summit and expressed his appreciation for his tireless and commendable efforts in leading the LDC group.HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also thanked the UN Secretary-General for his valuable participation in this summit.HE Sheikh Mohammed stressed Doha's pride in hosting the presidents and heads of government of the LDCs.