It is important to recall that the G77 and China was born out of a need by developing countries to join forces with the international community to address common development challenges in the economic, social and environmental arenas. Today, with a membership of 135 States, the Group is firmly committed to eradicating poverty in all its forms, recognizing this as a global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. In this respect, the Group wishes to reiterate the need for the United Nations to place sustainable development front and center of the work of the Organization.

Consistent with the priority we place on sustainable development, the G77 and China will be looking to the UN for the requisite support and resources as the Secretary-General pursues the development pillar of Organizational reform. We will support the Secretary General and the Secretariat in continuing to promote the repositioning of the UN development system, in particular the consultations for the regional review and multi country office (MCO) review, a situation disproportionately affecting Small Island Developing States.

Mr. President,

It bears re-stating that the G-77 and China remains firmly committed to its founding principles of unity, complementarity, cooperation and solidarity. In the course of this year we will continue to push for action for the advancement of all humanity and the protection of our planet. As expressed in the joint declaration adopted by our Group on the occasion of its 55th anniversary 'We stand together for the betterment of the lives of our peoples and of all humanity, embodying the principle of the sovereign equality of States, the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, the determination to protect the planet and the life it is home to, and the pledge to leave no one behind.

As we observe the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN, we are also cognizant that this marks the final Decade of Action for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. We should step up our commitment to multilateralism and to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, fighting against unilateralism and protectionism, strengthening solidarity and cooperation in response to major challenges in jointly safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. Our Group recognizes that, particularly for countries in special situations, specifically Least Developing Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States and African countries, as well as specific challenges faced by many middle-income countries, conflict and post-conflict countries and countries and peoples living under foreign occupation, securing financing for the Sustainable Development Goals is essential for attaining the Goals.

Even as we address issues of financing for development, we in turn will amplify our own efforts towards making South-South and Triangular Cooperation a more active element of our SDG implementation mechanisms. In a matter of weeks, we will gather at the Third South Summit to set out the priorities and strategies that will guide the future work of our Group. I extend heartfelt thanks to the Government of Uganda for undertaking to host this important meeting.

Mr. President,

The importance of preserving our Oceans cannot be overemphasized, as this is linked to our very existence as a people and planet. In addition, the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction remain a priority for our Group. You can therefore count on our full engagement during the upcoming Second United Nations Ocean Conference and BBNJ negotiations.

Scientists and most governments agree that the world is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis with huge numbers of species on the brink of extinction. Global temperatures continue to rise. We look forward to these issues being given the attention that their urgency demands, especially in the forthcoming processes.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China believes that development has to be achieved in tandem with peace and security. Issues of youth, migration, science, technology and innovation are all of paramount importance for our Group.

We look forward to joining forces with our partners, under the United Nations umbrella, to advance our common objectives in 2020. Our discussions this year under the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR), as well as the review of the work of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum will, in our view, provide ample opportunity to address these priorities.

I thank you, Mr. President.

Excellencies,

As we meet today, the international situation gives increasing cause for concern. Notwithstanding the Paris Agreement and SDGs, many developing countries continue to grapple with a plethora of grave challenges, with respect to the ravages caused by climate change, poverty, hunger and disease. There is a deepening trust deficit in multilateralism as well as inadequate means of implementation, including financing, trade, technology transfer and capacity building.

On the other hand, 2020 is already full of significant undertakings and challenges that will sternly test the mettle of the Group. It must be easily evident therefore that nothing short of a strong, credible and focused G-77 will enable us to be equal to the demands of our time. For this reason, it is to these core imperatives of working for a strong, credible and focused G-77, to which our energies as Chair will be dedicated. In a word, during 2020 we will seek to enhance the image and character of our Group as the largest negotiating bloc within the United Nations.

Excellencies,

The G-77 is strong as it is united. The G-77 is strong acting in solidarity. As a large Group our circumstances, realities and experiences vary greatly but we will use our diversity continues as a source of strength. The world needs a strong United Nations and a strong G-77.

Excellencies,

The G-77 is derives its credibility from operating on a principled basis. The G77 is credible through consistent and coherent action, whether in defence of our core foundational principles or in the pursuit of the implementation of concrete programmes and initiatives. We must work to ensure that our credibility is never open to question.

Excellencies,

Our Group is focused when we have clear and common objectives. The G-77 is focused when we demonstrate leadership on issues of global importance. While our working methods and approaches have served us well, we must continue to review, renew and revitalize our modalities of work to ensure that we are optimized to pursue the best interests and undertakings mandated by the Group.

Excellencies,

As the UN observes, this year, the 75th Anniversary of its founding, it is opportune for the G-77 to take account of its own progress and contribution to the achievements of this global organization with respect to development through the convening of the South Summit, the supreme decision-making forum of our Group.

Guyana congratulates Uganda for its initiative to host the Third South Summit for which preparatory work is now well underway to ensure its success. Following the Havana Summit in 2000 and the Doha Summit in 2005, the Summit this year will provide a welcome opportunity to review progress of the G-77 and to strategize on concrete actions to consolidate and reinvigorate the platform of the South, including taking account of the current global context and developments, as well as building on the outcome of the Second United Nations High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation held in Buenos Aires last year. (reference to South South and China) We encourage all members to participate in the South Summit at the highest possible level.

In 2020 we must also pursue definitive action to ensure that efforts are accelerated to implement the Paris Agreement and to achieve the transformative 2030 Agenda, including the SDGs. The rationale and urgency for such scaled-up efforts are abundantly clear to us all.

Excellencies,

Permit me to share the pride of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in assuming the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China in the year that we celebrate our Golden Jubilee as a Republic. It is also the year in which we launch the 2020-2029 Decade of Development within the context of our national development plan - the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040.

While a small country, Guyana has been consistently determined to strengthen democratic norms and to realize higher levels of prosperity, cohesion and progress for all its citizens. At the international, these convictions have been mirrored by our strong subscription to such fundamental principles as the sovereign equality of states, the peaceful resolution of disputes, the international rule of law and the power of multilateralism and the meaningful contribution of all states - small or large, rich or poor. Our embrace of these principles has inspired our activism at the international level and membership of such regional and international organizations as CARICOM, CELAC, AOSIS, the Commonwealth, the OIC, Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations. It was this conviction that informed our strident support for the dismantling of Apartheid, principled support for the Palestinian cause based on a two-state solution, opposition to the embargo on Cuba, unilateral coercive measures, social injustice to the violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of anyone.

Our commitment to sustainable development is of long standing and remains undiminished even in the face of our status as the newest oil-producing state. As a high forest cover, low deforestation country and net carbon sink, Guyana - with 87% of its land area covered by forests, has acted to limit the deforestation of its pristine tropical Amazon forests to world leading levels. Indeed, Guyana has been consistently identified as one of the prime eco-tourism destinations in the world.

Since its founding as an independent state Guyana has striven to maintain an independent foreign policy of peace and friendship with all countries based on mutual interests, shared perspectives and cooperation for common cause.

Accordingly, we anticipate engaging all countries, developed and developing, in a spirit of partnership to advance the interests of the Group and of global priorities, especially with respect to climate, trade, reform of the UN development system, the financial situation of the UN, strengthening multilateralism, the particular circumstances of all developing countries including SIDS, LDCs, LLDCs, Africa and middle-income countries, and advancing more effective measures of development.

To this end, we anticipate the inclusion in the 2020 Programme of Work of the Group, to be considered at the Organizational Meeting on Friday, a number of thematic and regional meetings that will contribute to the achievement of our objectives in these areas,

Excellencies,

We are grateful that you have bestowed the honour and privilege for Guyana to serve as Chair of the Group of 77 and China for the second time. I assure you we will spare no effort in ensuring that we build upon the past achievements of the Group.

With great humility, we commit to remain attentive to the perspectives of all members and to discharge the responsibilities of Chair with full integrity, commitment to our core principles and in furtherance of the interests of all developing countries.

We invite the active involvement of all members in the work of the Group this year and with a view to realizing the high ideals of the G-77 and China for the peoples of all our countries and for the peoples of the world.

I thank you.

Excellencies,

The State of Palestine may not have been the obvious choice, but we hope that, as this chairmanship concludes, the group feels it was the right choice. Many saw in this choice an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people but we believe it is also a reflection of your confidence in the ability of the State of Palestine to deliver on the mandate it was entrusted with, namely representing a group that champions multilateralism, is the standard bearer of developing countries and remains the guardian of the pledge to leave no one behind.

In this context, our group worked tirelessly to further consensus in an era where it is often at jeopardy.

The group played a decisive role in the elaboration and adoption by consensus of the political declaration adopted at the SDG summit, preserving the integrity and integrality of the 2030 Agenda, including the objective of eradicating poverty, and determining concrete actions to ensure its timely implementation, at the most challenging time since its adoption. The group also played an important role in placing the emphasis on means of implementation in the context of financing for development and on the ownership of developing countries on South-South Cooperation at the BAPA +40 Conference.

The group, in the context of its leading role in the Second Committee, also succeeded in reaching an agreement with the EU on the inclusivity language across 20 resolutions, preserving to a great extent consensus in this important committee, while upholding the need to ensure that no one is left behind, notably people in vulnerable situations and the most vulnerable countries.

At the same time, the group demonstrated that while always striving for consensus, it did not shy away from standing its ground on matters of principle.

Yesterday, a historic vote took place in defense of equitable and broad geographical representation to ensure that the membership of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) is in the image of the membership of the UN and to correct the unfair and inadequate representation of regional groups that developing countries are part of. In this regard, we can all be proud of the unity, solidarity and resolve manifested by the group at this occasion.

Allow me to seize this opportunity to thank the partners that voted in favour of the G77 and China draft resolution, namely: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Norway and the Russian Federation.

This vote is a signal that equitable geographical representation can no longer be denied nor further delayed. This also means having a Secretariat that reflects the true international character of the organization, our common home.

The group therefore matches its words with deeds, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the negotiations on administrative and budgetary matters including in the context of the first annual budget and in negotiations on the peacekeeping budget, where the group played a key role in protecting the resources dedicated to the development pillar of the United Nations, defended the role and rights of troop and police contributing countries, advanced the interests of developing countries, and stressed the role of the CPC. The group also played a key role this year in addressing the critical financial situation of the organization in relation to peacekeeping.

The group continued to lead the efforts to combat inequalities within and among countries, as reflected in its engagement in the Commissions for Social Development, Status of Women and Population and Development, as well as on humanitarian affairs.

The group continued to be the leading voice a strong on the need for the UN's communications to promote a more just and effective world information and communication order that contributes to a more equitable economic order and advances peace and international understanding.
The budget we just adopted advances multilinguism in official and non-official languages of the UN, in line with the G77 and China resolution on information.

Last but not least, and while we have developed the means to explore other planets, we have not yet dedicated the necessary means to preserve our own. There is no grouping better equipped to speak of this matter than our own, given the immediate existential threat faced by some of our members. This year in Bonn and Madrid we were able to advance common positions in new areas. We must redouble the mobilization we have displayed on combating climate change to ensure we all do our share under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, so that sanity can prevail, not suicide.

In this regard, our Group took a leading role in promoting the preservation of our Ocean, and conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, including through supporting the holding of a 2nd UN Ocean Conference and in being an active player in the BBNJ negotiations.

Excellencies,

This was a year of many challenges, both within the group and for the UN. But as it concludes, our group demonstrates once again its ability to live by its founding principles of unity, complementarity, cooperation and solidarity and to act for the advancement of all humanity and the protection of our planet, as enshrined in the positions and the many resolutions put forward by our group in 5 of the 6 main committees of the General Assembly and the plenary.

The State of Palestine received the baton from Egypt and today passes the baton to Guyana, embodying the uninterrupted chain of a joint endeavour that started 55 years ago and that is more relevant today than ever. The South-South Summit to take place this year in Uganda will be an important milestone on our long march towards an inclusive, just and equitable world order that upholds the rights and addresses the needs of the Global South.

Excellencies,

As expressed in the joint declaration adopted by our group at the occasion of its 55th anniversary 'We stand together for the betterment of the lives of our peoples and of all humanity, embodying the principle of the sovereign equality of States, the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, the determination to protect the planet and the life it is home to, and the pledge to leave no one behind.'

Palestine knows firsthand what it means to be left behind, and was privileged to be part of a group that defends every day the interests of developing countries, especially countries in special situations, in particular, African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States as well as middle-income countries, conflict and post-conflict countries and countries and peoples living under foreign occupation.

It was our greatest honour to fight during our chairmanship for the principles, rights and interests of a group that has for so long fought for our rights.

I thank you