Your Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,
Your Excellency Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the Eightieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly,
Your Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates and Guests,

It is a distinct honor for me to welcome you to this handover ceremony, marking the conclusion of Iraq's Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China for the year 2025, and the transition of this important responsibility to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, which will who assumes the Chairmanship of the Group for 2026 under the leadership of His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay.

For Iraq, it has been both a privilege and a historic responsibility to chair the Group of 77 and China for the first time since the establishment of our Group sixty years ago. On this occasion, I wish to express my deep appreciation to all members of the Group for the trust placed in Iraq, and for the spirit of unity, cooperation and solidarity that has characterized our collective work throughout this last year.

I also wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Deputy Secretary-General, the various entities of the UN development system and departments, and the G77 Secretariat, for their continued support and constructive engagement with the Group during Iraq's tenure. We particularly appreciate the efforts of the Secretary-General over the past year to advance proposals aimed at strengthening multilateralism and responding more effectively to the development priorities and needs of developing countries.

Excellencies,

Throughout 2025, under Iraq's Chairmanship, the Group of 77 and China played an active and coordinated critical role in shaping intergovernmental processes and outcomes across the United Nations system. Our collective efforts were guided by a shared determination to advance a more just, inclusive and equitable international economic order-one that enables sustainable growth, poverty eradication and improved standards of living for all our peoples.

The Group engaged substantively in key global processes, including preparations for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit for Social Development, the reform of the international financial architecture, and discussions on digital cooperation and artificial intelligence, to name a few. Across these processes, the Group consistently emphasized the centrality of development, the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, and the need for predictable and adequate means of implementation for developing countries.

At the outset onset of Iraq's Chairmanship, we committed to prioritizing, inter alia, the acceleration of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; enhanced action on climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation in accordance with multilateral agreements; the mobilization of financing for development; the fight against illicit financial flows; and the promotion of inclusive digital transformation. Over the course of the year, the Group worked collectively to translate these priorities into concrete negotiating positions and outcomes, while safeguarding national circumstances and development pathways.

Excellencies,

The year 2025 has also underscored the importance of a United Nations development system that is responsive, coherent and adequately resourced. While we recognize and value the important work carried out by the United Nations and its entities, the evolving global landscape calls for continued reform to ensure that the system is better equipped to address intersecting crises, including debt vulnerabilities, climate impacts, widening inequalities and technological disruptions. In this context, the Group of 77 and China has consistently advocated for reforms that strengthen development effectiveness, enhance country ownership, and ensure that no country is left behind.

I am pleased to note that, throughout these demanding processes and a very intense geopolitical landscape, the Group of 77 and China has remained united, principled and forward-looking. This unity remains our greatest strength, and it will be essential as we continue to defend and advance the collective interests of developing countries within the United Nations.

Excellencies,

As Iraq hands over the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, we do so with full confidence in Uruguay's leadership and commitment to multilateralism. We are confident that you and your distinguished delegation will guide the Group with wisdom, inclusiveness and a strong spirit of consensus-building, in pursuit of our shared goals and objectives.

Iraq stands ready to extend its full cooperation and support to the incoming Chair and will continue to play an active and constructive role as a committed member of the Group of 77 and China.

I wish Uruguay every success in leading our Group toward the realization of our common aspiration for a fair, balanced and equitable international economic, social and environmental order.

I thank you.