STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA DELIVERED BY THE DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ DURING THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO HEAR A BRIEFING BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON HER PRIORITIES FOR 2026 (New York, 14 January 2026)

Madam President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, allow me to thank you for briefing Member States on your priorities for the resumed part of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The year 2025 has been a particularly challenging one for the United Nations and for the international community as a whole. Ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to erode hard-earned development gains and undermine our collective ability to focus on multilateralism and cooperation, principles that are indispensable in today's highly interconnected world. As we draw closer to 2030, the achievement of national development goals, including the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, is drifting further out of reach.

Despite these difficulties, the international community has demonstrated resilience and resolve. We have successfully delivered several landmark outcomes, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and its Sevilla Commitment, the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, the Ocean Conference, and UNFCCC COP30. These processes reaffirm the enduring relevance of multilateral cooperation when political will is present.

Madam President,

The United Nations is a collective institution that belongs equally to all Member States, regardless of size or level of development. In this regard, we are encouraged that the vast majority of Member States continue to demonstrate their commitment to this foundational principle and to engage constructively in the work of the General Assembly. Partnerships, diplomacy, and solidarity remain indispensable pillars underpinning the work of this Organization.

Despite the complex global environment, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its unwavering commitment to multilateralism, to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, and to the central role of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations. We stand ready to continue engaging with all delegations in a spirit of good faith, mutual respect, and genuine cooperation, so that the General Assembly may continue to serve as a driving force for sustainable development.

As we look ahead at our work for 2026, the Group of 77 and China remains hopeful and fully committed to actively engaging in the key processes and negotiations before us. In this context, we underscore the importance of preserving the intergovernmental nature of negotiations and ensuring that multilateral processes adhere to established rules, practices, and modalities. Reinterpretation of procedures risks undermining multilateralism itself. Equally important is inclusivity: overlaps between high-level meetings and negotiations must be avoided to ensure the full and effective participation of developing countries. Leaving no one behind must also mean inclusivity in all processes that shape global development outcomes.

Madam President,

The General Assembly must continue to play a central role in addressing these challenges, ensuring universal participation in shaping global governance and decision-making. The Group of 77 and China reiterates the urgent need for both immediate and long-term solutions, including enhanced technical and financial assistance from developed countries and multilateral development banks, increased Official Development Assistance, long-term concessional and grant financing, and the voluntary reallocation of unused Special Drawing Rights.

We further urge renewed commitment to poverty eradication as the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. Concrete actions for the eradication of poverty and hunger, alongside technology transfer, capacity-building, and investment in sustainable and resilient infrastructure, must remain priorities.

Strengthening the international trading system and reforming the international financial architecture, including governance structures of the IMF and World Bank, remain critical to empowering developing countries and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In this regard, the continued imposition of unilateral coercive measures, in violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, severely hampers the ability of affected countries to pursue sustainable development. We reiterate our call for their immediate and unconditional removal.

As we prepare for the conferences and high-level meetings scheduled in the period ahead, we must move beyond distractions and remain focused on the core purpose of the United Nations. The UN80 initiative must serve to establish a solid foundation for a more responsive, effective, and fit-for-purpose United Nations, one capable of addressing the challenges faced by the global population, particularly those furthest behind.

Madam President,

The Group of 77 and China will continue to advocate for unity, equity, and fairness across all multilateral processes earmarked for 2026 and beyond.

I thank you.