RABAT, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The 5th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) kicked off Wednesday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech to review the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
The two-day forum is meant to provide a multi-stakeholder platform for follow-up and review of implementation progress and challenges, strengthening learning and advocating effective policy measures and actions to achieve the goals of the 2030 agenda as well as the goals set out in Africa's Agenda 2063.
Speaking at the opening of the forum, Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani said the forum represents a new step towards strengthening partnership and cooperation among African states.
He stressed that despite the relatively slow start, Africa has the capacity to speed up implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
"We need to move forward together with more determination and resolve," he insisted.
ARFSD, convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), brings together African ministers, senior officials in charge of environment and sustainable development, experts representing governments and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.
