UNITED NATIONS, April 15 (Xinhua) -- "We need more money to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday.

In his opening remarks to the 2019 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) financing for development forum, the UN chief highlighted the importance of financing for implementing the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.

"2019 is a defining year for implementing the SDGs and the Paris Agreement," he said, adding that so far these tasks are not keeping pace and they face serious challenges and evolving risks.

Uneven growth, rising debt levels, possible upticks in financial volatility, and heightened global trade tensions are complicating the implementation of the SDGs, said the UN chief.

According to Guterres, a recent study by the International Monetary Fund found that developing countries face an average annual funding gap of some 2.6 trillion U.S. dollars of investment in health, education, roads, electricity, water and sanitation.

For low-income developing countries, this means additional annual spending that can amount to as much as 15 percent of their Gross Domestic Product, he added.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda is the blueprint for the global partnership to finance sustainable development, said Guterres, adding that everyone, and particularly developed countries, must meet their commitments in full.

This year's ECOSOC financing for development forum runs from Monday to Thursday. Enditem

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