Mr. President,

It is an honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, I extend our gratitude to the Secretary-General for outlining his priorities for 2025.

The Group of 77 and China recognizes that our world continues to face complex and interlinked challenges, including persistent conflicts, the escalating impacts of climate change, poverty, hunger, widening debt levels, limited Sustainable Development Goals’ financing, biodiversity loss, widening digital divide, unilateral coercive measures, and the aftermath of global health crises. These pressing issues demand immediate, coordinated action.

The Group reaffirms the Secretary-General’s call to rebuild trust and restore hope through inclusive multilateralism and enhanced international cooperation. In this regard, the Pact for the Future is a golden opportunity to make the multilateral system truly serve its purpose under the UN Charter. Furthermore, we emphasize the urgent need to address the root causes of conflicts, focusing on lasting peace and resilience-building measures, particularly in developing countries disproportionately affected by instability. Additionally, we reiterate our call for urgent actions to address the financing needs of developing countries to support their efforts to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions.

On climate change, 2024 witnessed unprecedented challenges, including escalating extreme weather events and increasing vulnerabilities in developing nations. The Group calls for the full and timely implementation of all decisions adopted at the sessions of the Conferences of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including those at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024, in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

We urge the developed countries to urgently and full fulfill their commitment to provide developing countries with climate finance. In this regard, the Group looks forward to COP 30 to be held in Brazil in November 2025 to advance international actions to address climate change, in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement. We reaffirm that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the multilateral forum to address climate change. We strongly call for enhanced funding for the Loss and Damage Fund to help the most vulnerable developing countries who are at the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Mr. President,

The Group underscores the need for a global financial system that addressed the needs of all nations equitably, particularly developing countries. We call for urgent comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture to address structural inequalities, ensure fair access to long term finance, and promote sustainable development as well as ensure the participation of developing countries in global economic decision making. This includes debt restructuring and the adoption of concessional financing frameworks that go beyond GDP-centric metrics to reflect multidimensional vulnerabilities.

Eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions remains critical in our efforts to achieve sustainable development. We reiterate our call for the international community to provide the required support to all developing countries to eradicate poverty. We therefore support all the proposals by the Secretary General to address the eradication of poverty, which remains the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, and we therefore call for a UN system-wide strategy for Poverty Eradication.

Hunger and food insecurity remain critical issues for many developing countries. The Group echoes the Secretary-General’s assertion that failing to address these crises fuels instability. We stress the importance of concrete actions, including robust investments in agricultural resilience and food systems, to meet the 2030 Agenda targets.

The rapid evolution of technology presents opportunities for transformation but also risks deepening existing divides. The Group reaffirms its commitment to an inclusive, intergovernmental process to agree on actions to address the widening digital divides, ensuring no one is left behind. We see digital transformation as a vital enabler for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing challenges such as education, healthcare, and climate action.

Mr. President,

The Group urges Member States to honor their financial commitments to the United Nations in full and on time, to avoid undermining critical processes and mandates. At the same time, we empathize with those unable to fulfill their obligations due to circumstances beyond their control.

The year 2025 offers significant opportunities to accelerate progress. Key platforms for action, include the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, consultations to establish the Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Additionally, the declaration from the 2025 UN Conference on SDG 14, the High-level meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, and the Second World Summit for Social Development will provide crucial momentum for advancing sustainable development efforts.

In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its unwavering support for the Secretary-General’s efforts to uphold the Charter of the United Nations and to ensure that the UN remains at the forefront of helping the achievement of sustainable development by 2030 and beyond.

I thank you, Mr. President.