Rodong Sinmun Thursday observes this in a signed article.

It goes on:

The South-South cooperation has played a big role by helping developing countries firmly consolidate the political independence, weather economic difficulties and achieve economic independence. It is getting more important and necessary with each passing day.

Closer South-South cooperation provides an effective way for bringing down the old international economic order based on exploitation and plunder established and maintained by the Western powers.

The present unfair international economic order is a product of colonialism pursued by imperialism and a lever for making the Western monopolies corpulent.

The "liberalization" of trade and "globalization" of economy touted by the Western powers are nothing but a cynical ploy to turn developing countries into neo-colonies in a bid to maintain and strengthen the present old and unfair international economic order.

Closer South-South cooperation will help developing countries frustrate the imperialists' all sorts of sanctions and interference in internal affairs of other countries and create environment and conditions favorable for ensuring the country's political stability and independent economic development.

The existing unfair international economic order is very harmful to developing countries as it makes them economically dependent and subject to the imperialists.

Neither sanctions of the imperialists against developing countries nor interference in their internal affairs will work on these countries when they unite close each other with their own funds, resources and technology and boost cooperation and exchange.

The strengthened South-South cooperation provides developing countries with an important guarantee for increasing their say and influence in the international arena and reinforcing their international position.

The Western powers held negotiations with various developing countries which attained a high tempo in the growth of economic potentials to discuss world economic issues in recent years. This is an indication that developing countries have emerged a force to be reckoned with in the international arena.

In order to build a just and fair international economic order under the present situation it is important to develop the present South-South cooperation in the direction of establishing strong South-South economic relations.