Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group of 77 and China would like to thank the Co-Chairs of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance for all their work throughout this preparatory process. We believe that these informal thematic deep-dive sessions have been structured in a highly appropriate manner to facilitate exchange among delegations.

We consider this meeting a key milestone in advancing a common understanding on how to harness artificial intelligence for sustainable development and inclusive growth, and for accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through collaborative efforts that bring together governments, the entire United Nations system, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society, while preserving the intergovernmental nature of this process.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer an emerging issue - it is a defining force shaping development trajectories, economic structures, and social outcomes across the globe. For the Group of 77 and China, AI presents both significant opportunities and profound risks. Whether it becomes a tool for sustainable development or a driver of deeper inequality will depend on the choices we make collectively, and the extent to which developing countries are meaningfully included in shaping its governance.

On the social dimension, AI holds the promise of expanding access to essential services, including healthcare, education, and social protection. However, these benefits remain unevenly distributed. Large segments of the population in developing countries continue to face limited or no access to the digital infrastructure and skills required to benefit from AI systems. Without urgent action, AI risks reinforcing existing inequalities and creating new forms of exclusion. Bridging the digital divide is therefore not optional - it is an urgent development imperative. This includes addressing gaps in infrastructure, connectivity, data access, computing capacity, education, skills and human resources.

On the economic dimension, AI has the potential to drive productivity gains, foster innovation, and support economic diversification. Yet, the global AI ecosystem remains highly concentrated, with a small number of countries and corporations controlling data, infrastructure, computing power and technological capabilities, mainly from the North. This concentration risks marginalizing developing countries, limiting their participation in global value chains, and constraining their prospects for industrialization. The Group underscores that developing countries must not remain mere consumers of AI technologies. We call for concrete measures to enable technology transfer on fair and equitable terms, enhance domestic innovation capacities, and ensure fair and equitable participation in the AI economy. We also stress the need to strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation, including through joint research, shared expertise, capacity-building and the development of AI applications adapted to local needs and contexts.

On the ethical dimension, the Group stresses that AI must be developed and deployed in an ethical, inclusive, accessible, lawful, and verifiable manner, with a risk analysis by countries based on the UNESCO principles. In this regard, the Group recalls the importance of "Data for Development", recognizing data as a strategic asset for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, rather than merely as a commercial commodity. We remain concerned about algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, and the misuse of AI for surveillance and manipulation. Ethical frameworks must be inclusive, intergovernmental, and reflective of diverse cultural and developmental contexts. Voluntary approaches alone are insufficient to address systemic risks. Adequate safeguards are required to prevent discrimination, bias, exclusion and other potential harms, while ensuring that AI remains safe, reliable and oriented towards the common good.

On the cultural and linguistic dimensions, we highlight the risk that AI systems - trained predominantly on data from a limited number of languages and contexts - may contribute to cultural homogenization and the erosion of linguistic diversity. This is of particular concern for developing countries, where rich cultural heritage and linguistic plurality are central to identity and development. We call for stronger support for multilingual AI systems, local data ecosystems, and the preservation and promotion of indigenous and local knowledge. AI governance should also support open, interoperable and culturally responsive ecosystems that reflect the diversity of all societies.

On the technical dimension, the Group notes the persistent structural barriers faced by developing countries, including limited access to computational infrastructure, high-quality datasets, foundational models, and advanced research capabilities. These constraints are further compounded by high costs and restricted access to enabling technologies. Addressing these challenges requires strengthened international cooperation, including adequate, predictable and accessible financial resources, knowledge-sharing, technical cooperation, and the development of inclusive innovation ecosystems.

Excellencies,

Turning to bridging AI divides, the Group emphasizes that the widening gap in AI capabilities between developed and developing countries is a matter of serious concern. If left unaddressed, this divide will entrench global inequalities and undermine the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Capacity-building must be at the center of international efforts. This includes not only training and skills development, but also institutional strengthening, support for research and development, and the creation of enabling policy environments. Capacity-building initiatives must be demand-driven, country-led, and aligned with national development priorities and plans. They should also support education, upskilling, institutional capacities and the development of local expertise in developing countries.

Access to AI technologies and their underlying components remains highly unequal. The Group calls for improved access to data, computing resources, foundational models, and digital public goods, as well as affordable and reliable digital infrastructure. Such access must be equitable, affordable and non-discriminatory. In this regard, we stress the importance of international support for expanding broadband connectivity, strengthening data governance frameworks, and promoting open and inclusive technological ecosystems.

We also underscore the importance of digital foundations. AI cannot be developed or deployed effectively without robust digital infrastructure, including connectivity, data systems, energy access and computing capacity. Many developing countries continue to face significant gaps in these foundational areas. Addressing these gaps requires increased investment, enhanced international cooperation, and the fulfillment of existing commitments related to financing for development. The Group therefore calls for strengthened financing mechanisms, including support for capacity-building, infrastructure and the effective participation of developing countries in AI-related processes.

Furthermore, the Group reiterates the need to address barriers that limit developing countries' access to critical technologies. Measures that restrict technology flows or impose undue constraints on access to knowledge, innovation, capacity-building and financing risk widening the AI divide and must be carefully examined. In this context, the Group underscores the adverse impact that such barriers may have on the ability of developing countries to develop and benefit from artificial intelligence.

Excellencies,

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms that AI governance must be anchored in multilateralism, with the United Nations playing a central role. Developing countries must have a strong and effective voice in shaping global AI norms, standards, and regulatory frameworks. Any approach that sidelines multilateral processes or excludes the majority of the world's population is neither sustainable nor acceptable. The meaningful participation of developing countries in all aspects of AI governance, including standard-setting and decision-making processes, must be ensured.

The Group further emphasizes that Member States must remain at the core of decision-making in this process, with full respect for national sovereignty, national development priorities and policy space. AI governance frameworks should remain responsive to different national contexts and capacities, and should support, rather than constrain, development pathways.

In conclusion, we stress that AI must serve as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development. This requires urgent, concrete, and collective action to ensure equitable access, strengthen capacities, mobilize financing, facilitate technology transfer, and address the structural imbalances that define the current AI landscape.

The choices we make today will determine whether AI becomes a force for shared prosperity or a driver of deeper inequality. For the Group of 77 and China, the path forward is clear: inclusivity, equity, multilateralism and development must remain at the center of global AI discussions.

The Group reaffirms its commitment to engage constructively in this Global Dialogue, with the aim of achieving tangible, just and development-oriented outcomes, ensuring that AI becomes a force for the common good of all peoples, leaves no one behind, and contributes meaningfully to sustainable development.

I thank you.