Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Excellencies, colleagues, good afternoon.
At the outset, I wish to thank the Republic of Uganda, through the excellent leadership of Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, along with his hardworking team at the Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations, for successfully leading the Group last year. We recall, with appreciation, Uganda’s hosting of the Third South Summit where the Group had the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the spirit and principles of the G77 and China and our solidarity to work for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous world.
As 2024 unfolded, we witnessed and commend Uganda for sustaining and advancing - despite challenges - our close collaboration, friendship, and common purpose, so we could promote our common interests in major processes that speak to the development agenda, including the Pact for the Future, and the Global Digital Compact, as well as in the main committees of the UNGA, particularly the Second, Third, and Fifth Committees. Amid the wide-ranging and complex agenda items, Uganda efficiently and effectively shepherded the Group, in a constructive spirit.
Warm congratulations as well to our current Chair, the Republic of Iraq. To His Excellency Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who graced us with his presence at the turn-over, and to the Iraq Mission team here in New York led by you, Chair, please be assured of the Philippines’ firm support and cooperation to contribute to the success of your Chairship.
2025 ushers in important processes such, among others, as the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development and World Social Summit where the stakes are high for developing countries and thus require all of us to be unequivocal and united in our purpose and positions to push for a fairer, more inclusive, global economic order, to narrow global inequalities.
2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations which provides us an opportune time for self-introspection – to recognize and be proud of what we have achieved; to appreciate where we are now, while undertaking a frank self-evaluation of the current challenges we face within and without; and to be purposeful in how our Group intends to go forward in advancing the interests of all developing countries.
Excellency,
For the year before us, we remain seized of the following issues of national priority: to advance reform of the global financial architecture; to chart a transformative path for developing countries to reap the benefits of the 4th Industrial Revolution; to advocate for wider recognition of middle-income countries and their specific challenges; to strengthen climate action and disaster risk resilience; and to bolster South-South Cooperation and foster synergies and complementarities for mutual benefit.
On our approach, I wish to emphasize that the inspiration and aspiration of my country and my delegation in engaging with the G77 and China remain the same as it was during our Group’s foundation 60 years ago – and that is, to constructively engage with, and contribute to the Group, with the end goal of solidifying collective action and amplifying the voice of developing countries in international/global affairs.
Again, our gratitude to Uganda; and our assurance of our firm support to Iraq.
Thank you.