Objectives

The Joint Declaration of 15 June 1964 signed by the representatives of the Member States of the Group of 77 participating in the Conference summarizes the raison d’etre for the establishment of the Group and sets out the members' united objectives in the field of trade and development:

The developing countries attach singular importance to the establishment of international machinery in the field of trade and development. It is vitally necessary that this machinery should be an effective instrument for the discussion of issues, the formulation of policies, the review of results, and for taking such operational measures as are needed in the sphere of international economic relations.

The developing countries attach cardinal importance to democratic procedure which afford no position of privilege in the economic and financial, no less than in the political sphere. Furthermore, the developing countries would stress the need for continued evolution in the institutional field, leading not merely to the progressive strengthening of the machinery that is now contemplated, but also to the ultimate emergence of a comprehensive international trade organization.

The developing countries regard their own unity, the unity of the seventy-five, excluding Japan and New Zealand, as the outstanding feature of this Conference. This unity has sprung out of the fact that facing the basic problems of development they have a common interest in a new policy for international trade and development. They believe that it is this unity that has given clarity and coherence to the discussions of this Conference. Their solidarity has been tested in the course of the Conference and they have emerged from it with even greater unity and strength.

The developing countries have a strong conviction that there is a vital need to maintain, and strengthen further, this unity in the years ahead. It is an indispensable instrument for securing the adoption of new attitudes and new approaches in the intenational economic field. This unity is also an instrument for enlarging the area of co-operative endeavour in the international field and for securing mutually beneficial relationships with the rest of the world. Finally, it is a necessary means for cooperation amongst the developing countries themselves.

The G77 is a creation of a 'unity amongst diversity'. It is not a homogenous group with nearly identical economic problems, social environments, needs and capacities; nevertheless almost all of the members have one thing in common: they were nations who were subjected to colonialism in one way or the other and were newly emerged independent states who needed devdopment. The G77 therefore proceeded to create a broad setting of objectives to address common problems.

From the above excerpts, which outline the position of the Group on the series of major issues aimed at an improved international economic and social framework of developing nations, emerge its twin objectives:

development and peace.