GROUP OF 77
GENEVA

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. DIEGO AULESTIA VALENCIA, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUADOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, AT THE SIXTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD, ON AGENDA ITEM: FIFTEENTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE
(Geneva, 25 June 2019)

Mr. President, H.E. Mr. Michael Gaffey (Ireland),
Secretary-General, Mr. Mukhisa Kituyi,
Honorable Kerrie D. Symmonds B.A., LL.B., Minister of Tourism and International Transport of Barbados
His Excellency Hamad Abdulla Almass, Executive Director, International Economic Relations, Department of Economic Development of Abu Dhabi
His Excellency Ambassador Obaid Salem Saeed Al Zaabi,
His Excellency Ambassador Chad Blackman,
Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Isabelle Durant,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. The Group of 77 and China expresses its appreciation to the member States that presented the intention of hosting the fifteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. We would like to highlight their commitment to this organization and the aims we pursue. The Group of 77 and China encourage member States to keep their high commitment to UNCTAD.

2. Thank you very much, Barbados. The Group of G77 and China is very glad to welcome your offer to host the XV Conference of Trade and Development. We would like to express our high appreciation of for the consistent engagement of Barbados with the crucial themes this conference is about.

3. The Group of 77 and China has already started discussions to prepare our proposals for the Conference. Our expectation is to engage in constructive conversations on substantive issues to help us to continue on a discussion we started in 1964. Ludwig von Moss, President of the Swiss Confederation, said in his welcoming speech in the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development that "aims not merely to settle particular or local problems: it has to reconsider the basic economic relations between the nations".

4. The Group of 77 and China would like to request that the Secretary-General convey his report to the member States.

5. The Group of 77 and China expresses its deep commitment with for the success of the fifteenth session of the United Nations Conference.

Thank you!