2. Let me, at the outset, express our continued appreciation for this effort to enhance synergies and coherence in the work of the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and their respective subsidiary bodies, as well as the related high-level forums aligned, in particular, with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. These synergies are critically important, especially in the current global climate.

3. Today, we are five years away from the very ambitious goals we collectively set out in the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. However, implementation to date has been extremely underwhelming, and this reflects poorly on us as a global community. Once again, we risk falling short because we fail to come together as one global family to ensure we fulfill our part in making this world a better place-not for the few, but for all.

4. This year, as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of this august organization, the United Nations, let us use this time to reflect deeply on where we are falling short, what lessons we can build upon, and how we can mobilize ourselves to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the implementation of its SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, among other critical frameworks and instruments.

5. Mr. Presidents, last year in the General Assembly, we adopted several key documents, such as the Pact for the Future, the Digital Compact, and the QCPR, to name a few. These documents aim to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. It is, therefore, imperative that this year, through the collaboration of your two main bodies, we begin the steep uphill climb to ensure we deliver on our aspirations and commitments.

6. Excellencies, today more than ever, we need to address and overcome global challenges with enhanced unity, solidarity, renewed multilateral cooperation, and a collective global response. Thus, it is crucial for ECOSOC to step up its role as the parent body for UN entities, as well as for key follow-up processes. We need all hands-on deck, and we must work together to prioritize action. We must fulfill our pledges and commitments, for many within our Group do not have the luxury of time, and urgent action is their only option for survival.

7. We look forward to the forthcoming processes already earmarked for this year, particularly the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, the Second World Summit for Social Development, and the High-Level Political Forum. These processes must go beyond words on paper and ambitions that look good but fail to deliver. They must have the highest ambition, which we intend to urgently implement, especially when it comes to the financial means of implementation, with developed countries taking the lead and delivering on their commitments. We face a $4.3 trillion gap in financing the SDGs and a $1.5 trillion gap in financing climate action. Therefore, we need to:

        a) Implement commitments on ODA,
        b) Take urgent action on debt relief and restructuring,
        c) Scale up grant-based and concessional financing,
        d) Re-channel 50% of the 2021 allocation of SDRs, and
        e) Provide generous financial and other assistance to countries impacted by climate change.

8. The Group is committed to engaging constructively and actively in all these important events, and we also look forward to working with our developed partners and the UN system to accelerate our work and deliver the level of action required. In doing so, we need to pay particular attention to countries in special situations, such as the LDCs, SIDS, LLDCs, and Africa, as well as the challenges of MICs. In this regard, their programs of action and specific development initiatives must be implemented, as they are tailored to meet their unique and specific situations. It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable development.

9. Finally, the Group of 77 and China remains committed to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of the General Assembly and ECOSOC. We stand ready to work together to enhance their coherence and effectiveness. We wish to assure you, Presidents, that we will continue to engage in these efforts in a positive and constructive manner.

I thank you.

Today, we gather at a pivotal moment, as the international community faces growing challenges to peace and stability, including persistent conflicts, inequalities, climate change, and the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic. These interconnected crises underline the urgent need to strengthen multilateralism and foster a culture of dialogue, mutual understanding, and trust among nations.

The Group of 77 and China firmly believes that peace is not merely the absence of war but a comprehensive process that encompasses social justice, equitable development, and respect for the sovereignty and independence of all nations. To this end, we emphasize the critical importance of addressing the root causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, foreign occupation, and the marginalization of people in vulnerable situations.

Excellencies,

As we embark on this International Year of Peace and Trust, the Group of 77 and China call for renewed commitments from the global community to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. We urge Member States to prioritize implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as its transformative framework provides a pathway to achieving lasting peace and stability through inclusive development.

Moreover, we welcome the introduction of the Roadmap for the International Year of Peace and Trust, which outlines concrete activities to strengthen political dialogue, foster international solidarity, and enhance cooperation in addressing global challenges. The Group of 77 and China stand ready to support these efforts and collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of this ambitious agenda.

In closing, let me reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the Group of 77 and China to the ideals of peace, trust, and multilateral cooperation. Together, let us seize this opportunity to advance a world free of conflict, characterized by harmony, equity, and shared prosperity.

Thank you.

At the outset, I would like to thank the co-facilitators for their efforts in leading this intergovernmental process and consultations to identify the terms of reference and modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on Al Governance for adoption by the General Assembly.

The Group believes that when discussing the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, we must consider the ongoing issue of the digital divide. While technology has been an essential tool for addressing development needs, not everyone has equal access to its benefits. Therefore, the Group emphasizes the importance of taking significant action to reduce the growing digital divide if we aim to create an inclusive Information Society.

On the eve of unprecedented digital transformation, AI has the potential to bring new development opportunities and accelerate the progress and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development in its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental - in a balanced and integrated manner.

The group reiterates its position and concern regarding the lack of digital infrastructure connectivity and skills, including education, expertise and human capacity, which remains a fundamental challenge in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, which can contribute to artificial intelligence and other digital divides, including different levels of readiness to make use of and benefit from artificial intelligence,

The Group looks forward to a fair modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, which should help enhance member states' understanding and knowledge of how AI technologies can be developed and deployed in ways that are human-centric, reliable, explainable, ethical, inclusive, responsible, respect the international law and sustainable development-oriented, and that have the potential to accelerate and enable progress towards the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development in its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental, and it is important that the International Scientific Panel on AI is able to better inform Member States such that they are able to take advantage of the opportunities of AI towards this end.

The Global Dialogue is an equally important initiative, providing a platform for inclusive engagement on the broader implications of AI. At this initial stage, the Group highlights the importance of establishing a strong foundation for meaningful and inclusive discussions.

The dialogue, therefore, should ensure inclusive participation while maintaining a strong intergovernmental foundation. This will ensure that states' priorities are central to its outcomes. Inclusivity and an intergovernmental focus should inform the format of the dialogue, its location, and its participation.

Excellencies,

How we approach artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies will determine whether digitalisation produces inclusive and sustainable outcomes or further widens the digital divide.

Finally, the Group stresses that the use of artificial intelligence in information and communication technologies should consider, as appropriate, the Declaration of Principles of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Thank you.