Dr. Nujoma's unwavering commitment to the independence and sovereignty of Namibia marked a turning point in the history of his nation and in the broader struggle for freedom and justice. His leadership during the liberation movement and his pivotal role in the founding of a democratic Namibia are a testament to his enduring vision for peace, unity, and prosperity.

In the first year of his presidency, following Namibia's hard-won independence and subsequent admission to the United Nations, Dr. Nujoma guided Namibia into the Group of 77, further strengthening the bond of solidarity among developing countries and reaffirming his dedication to advancing the causes of the Global South. His legacy in shaping Namibia's role within the international community remains profound.

As a leader he championed the principles of self-determination and solidarity, Dr. Nujoma's contributions to international diplomacy and the quest for global justice continue to resonate. His efforts not only advanced the cause of African liberation but also bolstered the collective aspirations of all developing countries for peace, equity, and sustainable development.

Today, we honor his legacy and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals for which he stood: peace, unity, and sustainable development for all. We take this opportunity to express our sincerest condolences to the Government and People of Namibia as they mourn the loss of this great icon.

May his vision continue to guide the path towards a more equitable and just world.

And may his timeless call and most favoured quote "A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all the members of the society, will always emerge victorious!" resonate with us, especially during these extremely difficult times and for all eternity.

I thank you.

The Group emphasizes that the AI Panel must be a multidisciplinary, evidence-based, and representative body. Its mandate should be to provide policy-relevant scientific assessments on AI's risks, opportunities, and governance. While synthesizing existing research, the Panel should also have the capacity to commission studies to address knowledge gaps, particularly for developing countries.

Regarding potential thematic focuses, the Group has identified potential sub-areas of focus under Opportunities, Risks, and Governance, which include but are not limited to:

- for Opportunities:
o AI for the SDGs
o Interoperability of AI systems
o Mapping and surveying current AI capabilities
o Identifying emerging trends and breakthroughs
o Assessments on global efforts to close digital divides and enhancing global digital connectivity

- for Risks:
o Potential risks of emerging systems

- for Governance:
o Identifying gaps in AI governance
o Identifying areas for international cooperation

Regarding The panel's structure, the Group supports a governance model akin to the IPCC, with a Plenary Panel, a Bureau, an Executive or Steering Committee, and Working Groups. This structure should prioritize equitable Global South representation at all levels.

On the selection process, the Group emphasizes transparency, inclusivity, and merit-based selection, ensuring regional and academic diversity. A multi-track approach should be adopted whereby government representatives comprise the Plenary Panel, Bureau members would be elected by Member States based on equitable geographical representation, and contributors to the Working Groups would be independent and subject to a similar nomination and review process as in the IPCC model.

The Group envisions that the Panel will produce annual reports on AI capabilities, risks, and policy gaps, alongside quarterly thematic research digests and special reports on emerging AI trends. The possibility of long-term reports should not be precluded. This will facilitate informed policymaking and bridge existing knowledge divides.

On the Dialogue:

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance should serve as an inclusive and participatory platform that fosters global collaboration on AI regulation and governance, ensuring that developing countries' perspectives are fully represented. The Group underscores that the Dialogue must address information asymmetries, promote AI capacity-building, and align governance frameworks with the SDGs.

The Group supports a structured, recurring format for the Dialogue, aligning with key UN meetings, and adopting a two-track approach:

- Intergovernmental Track: For government-led discussions on regulatory approaches, voluntary commitments, and governance standard-setting.
- Multistakeholder Track For technical and ethical discussions involving academia, industry, and civil society.

The Dialogue should lead to policy recommendations, shared governance frameworks, and international cooperation mechanisms, while also serving as a platform for bridging digital divides.

On the Relationship between the Panel and the Dialogue:

The Panel and Dialogue should be linked, with the Panel's findings informing the policy discussions of the Dialogue, while the Dialogue can, but not necessarily must, provide inputs to the research agenda of the Panel.

On UN System Support:

The Group underscores that the Panel and Dialogue should align with existing UN initiatives. A dedicated office could coordinate efforts, ensuring coherence, systematic capacity-building, and global AI governance alignment.

In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China reaffirm our commitment to ensuring an inclusive, transparent, and equitable approach to AI governance. The success of these efforts will depend on fostering international cooperation, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring that AI serves as a tool for sustainable development for all.

We will submit more specific proposals to the co-facs after this meeting.

I thank you.

At the outset, I would like to thank the co-facilitators for presenting the zero draft and the proposed roadmap for the intergovernmental process on the consultations to finalize the modalities for the overall review by the General Assembly of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society.

Mr. Chair,

The group hopes that the WSIS+20 Review will be vital in evaluating our progress, confronting the challenges we have faced, and reaffirming our collective commitment to harnessing ICTs for the advancement of information and knowledge societies. This review also aligns with the objectives of the Global Digital Compact, aiming to forge a shared vision for digital cooperation and governance.

The twenty-year review of WSIS outcomes, to be completed by the General Assembly this year, is a timely exercise in the context of elaborating the development agenda. We believe the digital economy is a source of innovation and productivity which brings improvements, as well as economic and social inclusion, that should be equitably harnessed by all countries, without exception or exclusion of any sort. It is therefore critically important to address the existing digital divide between developed and developing countries, as well as within societies and countries, particularly with regard to the availability, affordability, and quality of access to broadband connectivity and ICTs.

Recognising the importance of using ICT to advance sustainable development and achieve a pro-development global agenda until and beyond 2030, the Group calls for an appropriate preparatory process to be launched for the WSIS+20 review, drawing on experience from the three phases of WSIS. The twenty-year anniversary of WSIS should be the beginning of a new chapter for ICT development in developing countries that builds on the lessons learned over the past decade.

Lastly, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms the General Assembly's role in the overall review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes and urges it to agree on modalities for the WSIS+20 review during the current session of the General Assembly.

Finally, the G77 and China reiterates its commitment to actively engaging in this very important intergovernmental process and looks forward to reaching a concise, action-oriented modalities resolution agreed by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations.

I thank you.