H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica,
H.E. Mr. Héctor José Gómez Hernández, Permanent Representative of Spain,
 
Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
 
1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We extend our appreciation to the co-facilitators for their continued efforts in guiding this intergovernmental process and facilitating inclusive consultations.

2. We particularly commend the elements paper compiled by the co-facilitators, which provides a good foundation for our discussions today.

3. As the last opportunity to provide our inputs prior to the release of the zero draft, we will preface our comments on the elements paper by reiterating some key positions on the panel, the dialogue, and the relationship between the two.
4. In general, we wish to reiterate the needs to emphasize that the establishment of the Panel as well as the Global Dialogue shall maintain its focus in the area of sustainable development.

On the Panel:

5. At the outset, we would like to emphasize that the Panel, through its establishment and operation, should embody the principles of inclusivity and equitable global representation.

6. Therefore, the Group supports a inter-governmental structure whereby government representatives comprise a Plenary Panel, Bureau members would be elected by Member States, and scientific experts for the Working Groups would be independent and selected through a transparent, inclusive, and merit-based selection process. Equitable geographical representation should be prioritized at all levels.

7. We must strive for a balance between political legitimacy and scientific credibility. The group strongly believes that this requires a multi-tier governance structure with clearly defined roles for member states and scientific experts.

8. The Panel should provide policy-relevant multidisciplinary scientific assessments on AI's risks, opportunities, and governance. These assessments should be provided in the form of annual reports, quarterly thematic digests, and special reports without precluding the possibility of long-term reports.

9. On the list of potential thematic focuses for the Working Groups, the Group has submitted proposals to the co-facs that will be included in the longer version of this statement.

On the Panel according to the Elements paper:

10. In addition to the above stipulated position on the Panel, the group would like to provide the following reactions and additions to the elements paper:

i. The Group strongly rejects the inclusion of a selection committee, as mentioned above, bureau experts would be nominated and elected by member states and the scientists would be selected based on criteria and in line with our proposed structure. Therefore, a selection committee is unnecessary.
ii. The Group strongly emphasizes the importance of the Panel promoting capacity building, through initiatives such as a fellowships or training programs. This is critical for improving capacity and readiness of the Global South's representation and precedent can be found in the IPCC scholarship program and similar initiatives by the IPBES.
iii. The funding modalities of the Panel and the Dialogue should be made available in full transparency to all member states.
iv. The group doesn't believe that we need a High-Level Review of the Panel.
v. On the question of the secretariat, we are still having internal discussions on the formulation, but we agree that the Panel will be supported by the UN Secretariat in coordination with relevant agencies.
vi. Lastly, at this stage we don't find it necessary to state that the reports of the panel will be in advance of the Dialogue. We are yet to decide on how many Dialogues, where, and when they would take place. So perhaps we should avoid being too specific here.

On the Dialogue:

11. The Group believes that the Dialogue should serve as an inclusive and participatory platform that fosters global collaboration on AI governance, promote AI capacity-building, and other pertinent topics that align AI governance efforts with the SDGs.

12. The Panel's findings should inform the discussion on the Global Dialogue, which should result in policy recommendations, shared governance frameworks, international cooperation mechanisms and or other key outcomes, while also serving as a platform for bridging digital divides

13. The group advocates for a two-track approach for the Dialogue, including an:

- Intergovernmental Track: For government-led discussions on regulatory approaches, voluntary commitments, and governance standard-setting. If the dialogue is to be convened on only an annual basis, the dialogue should have an element of continuity, and should not rotate to different location each year as this could hamper the ability of developing countries to effectively and meaningfully participate in its deliberations
- Multistakeholder Track For technical and ethical discussions involving academia, industry, and civil society.

On the Dialogue according to the Elements paper:

14. In line with our stipulated position and submitted inputs, the group would like to provide the following reactions and additions to the elements paper:

i. We underscore the importance of meaningful participation and representation of developing countries, and in this regard welcome the inclusion of language calling for the incorporation of measures to this end.
ii. We strongly reject the idea of the Global Dialogue combining existing meetings and fora. The Dialogue has the potential to be a unique platform to discuss AI governance and other pertinent topics relevant to sustainable development and as such should not be relegated to a coordination mechanism or be forcefully constrained by other AI initiatives in the UN system.
iii. As previously mentioned, The Group argues for a two-tack approach and as such we would reject the idea of "connected" tracks. For us, Governments should lead policy discussions, while academia, industry, and civil society provide technical and ethical insights. Given these different roles and responsibilities, occasional interlinkages between the two tracks are yet to be discussed.
iv. The group doesn't believe that we need a High-Level Review of the Dialogue

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 catalyst for sustainable development for all.

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

I thank you.