Madam Chairperson,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. For the majority of the poor, the developmental promise of science and technology including Information and Communication Technologies remains un-fulfilled. Technology, instead of bridging the gap has often become a greater divider.  

3. The growing North-South global technological gulf must be bridged. Creating links between knowledge generation and development is one of the greatest challenges facing the developing countries.

Madam Chair,

4. The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) was held to address the challenge of the digital divide confronting the developing countries.

5. The adoption of Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society has provided the vision and vehicle for bridging the ever widening digital divide and to assist developing countries in addressing this challenge effectively.

Madam Chair,

6. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms the strong development orientation of the outcomes of both the Geneva and the Tunis phases of the Summit, and urge their full implementation. It is our hope that their full and effective implementation would allow developing countries to benefit fully from the potential of information and communication technologies.

7. We also acknowledge that Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) is a powerful tool for socio-economic development. It can offer many opportunities to the disadvantaged sectors of society. Importantly, proper use of ICT can assist in the eradication of poverty and to attain the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

8. Indeed, the creation of an inclusive and development-orientated Information Society is in the best interests of the entire humanity. But more so for that large majority of the peoples, particularly in the developing countries, that confront the challenge of exclusion, and in whose development modern information and communication technologies play a vital role. We would therefore like to stress the importance of building a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society so as to enhance digital opportunities for all people in order to help to bridge the digital divide.

Madam Chair,

9. The Group of 77 and China calls for the full implementation of the outcomes of the Geneva and Tunis Summits. We also reaffirm that the international management of the Internet should be a multilateral, transparent and democratic process, with the full involvement of governments, private sector, civil society and international organisations.

10. It is important to ensure that progress on the implementation of the Geneva and Tunis Summits is effectively monitored and properly followed-up. The international community, in particular the UN, need to remain engaged to ensure that the digital divide between the developed and developing world is bridged to contribute to the eradication of poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

11. In this regard, we believe that the UN General Assembly should play a more active and visible role. The Group of 77 and China would, therefore, table a short procedural resolution during this Session. The Resolution would request the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly, through ECOSOC, looking at, among others, on the recommendations on the follow-up process.

I thank you.