Informal Meeting of the General Assembly with the Secretary-General-designate

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL-DESIGNATE (New York, 19 October 2016)

Mr. President,

I would like to extend warm congratulations from the Group of 77 and China to Mr. Antonio Guterres on his appointment by the General Assembly as the next Secretary-General. We are delighted in particular that the process of selection and appointment that Mr. Guterres took part this year has been characterized by enhanced transparency and inclusivity. We would also like to express our appreciation to all the candidates that helped enrich the process and set a new benchmark for the United Nations.

The early election of Mr. Guterres as the next Secretary-General is a welcoming outcome. We trust that the ample time between now and 1 January 2017 will give Mr. Guterres the opportunity to prepare himself for the position often described as "the most impossible job in the world", as well as ensuring a smooth and seamless transition.

The United Nations is currently confronted with a multitude of challenges, including the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the aspiration of leaving no one behind, in particular countries in special situations, as well as the management of the Organization, especially in ensuring a geographically representative and gender-balanced Secretariat, particularly in the Senior Management Group. We wish Mr. Guterres every success in his role as the Secretary-General, in addressing those challenges. We hope to see his vision for the United Nations presented during the informal dialogue translated into concrete proposals and plans of actions, taking into account the interest of the entire United Nations Membership.

The Group of 77 and China look forward to working closely with Mr. Guterres and assure him of our full cooperation throughout his tenure.

Lastly, we would like to take this occasion to express our deepest appreciation to H.E. Mr. Ban

Ki-moon for his service and dedication to the United Nations over the past ten years as Secretary-General. Under his leadership at the United Nations, the international community has made great strides and achieved several key milestones, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the Sendai Framework of Action, the Action Agenda of Addis Ababa and the Paris Climate Change Agreement, to name just a few. We wish him success in all his future endeavours.

I thank you Mr. President.