Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

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

At the outset, allow me to thank the Co-Chairs, El Salvador and Estonia, for convening this first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance and for their outstanding work on the preparatory process. We also express our appreciation to the Joint Secretariat led by UNESCO and ITU and supported by the Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) and the Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG), and all United Nations entities that have contributed to preparing this important milestone.

Mr./Madam Chair,

Building on the first landmark General Assembly resolutions on artificial intelligence adopted in 2024 and following the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, Member States have demonstrated that multilateralism can deliver.

In a short period of time, the international community has laid the foundations of an emerging United Nations architecture for artificial intelligence governance.

First, Member States have agreed on a common vision that recognizes both the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and the need for inclusive international cooperation.

Second, the establishment of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence provides an independent, multidisciplinary and evidence-based scientific mechanism to inform policy discussions.

Third, the establishment of this Global Dialogue creates a universal United Nations platform where Governments and relevant stakeholders can exchange experiences, identify areas of convergence, share lessons learned and strengthen international cooperation on artificial intelligence governance.

And fourth, the work undertaken across the United Nations system, including through ODET and relevant entities such as UNDP, UNESCO and ITU, has strengthened coordination, promoted coherence and supported Member States through technical exchanges, capacity-building initiatives and practical opportunities for cooperation.

Together, these achievements show that the multilateral system has moved from designing an architecture for artificial intelligence governance to putting that architecture into operation.

Today, with the publication of the Panel's first Preliminary Report and the convening of this inaugural Global Dialogue, we are witnessing the first substantive outputs of this architecture.

The Preliminary Report confirms, through scientific evidence, many of the concerns consistently raised by developing countries throughout this process. It highlights that artificial intelligence capabilities, computing infrastructure, data resources, models and technical expertise remain highly concentrated. It also underlines that access to artificial intelligence and the capacity to govern it are unevenly distributed, and that without sustained investments in infrastructure, skills, institutions, data and governance capacities, artificial intelligence risks reinforcing existing inequalities rather than reducing them.

These findings reinforce the urgency of our collective work. They also confirm that the next phase of global artificial intelligence governance must focus on implementation.

Mr./Madam Chair,

For the Group of 77 and China, artificial intelligence is, first and foremost, a development issue.
If governed responsibly, inclusively and in a manner that supports international cooperation, artificial intelligence can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It can improve public services, strengthen education and health systems, enhance agricultural productivity, support climate resilience, modernize public administration, foster innovation and contribute to economic diversification.
However, these benefits will not materialize automatically. They will depend on whether developing countries have the infrastructure, capacities, financing, technology and policy space required to participate meaningfully in the artificial intelligence ecosystem.

The Group also sees merit in further exploring the concept of "Data for Development", recognizing the growing importance of data as a strategic resource for sustainable development. In this regard, international cooperation should support the development of trusted, secure and inclusive data ecosystems, strengthen national capacities for responsible data governance, and promote broader participation by developing countries in the emerging data economy.

Artificial intelligence governance cannot succeed if it is shaped only by those who already possess the greatest technological capabilities. It can only succeed if all countries are empowered to participate meaningfully in developing, deploying and governing artificial intelligence.
Bridging the digital divide, including the artificial intelligence divide must therefore become one of the defining objectives of international cooperation.

This means addressing disparities not only in connectivity, but also in computing capacity, data availability, digital public infrastructure, energy, research ecosystems, institutional capabilities and human talent.

The next artificial intelligence divide will not simply be about access to technology. It will increasingly be about access to the capacity to shape technology - to develop it, govern it, adapt it to national contexts and ensure that it serves sustainable development.

Closing that divide is not only in the interest of developing countries. It is in the interest of building a more inclusive, resilient and representative global artificial intelligence ecosystem that benefits all.

Mr./Madam Chair,

Significant expertise already exists within the United Nations system, as demonstrated by the valuable exchanges Members States held this year with ODET and numerous United Nations entities,
 
including UNDP, UNESCO and ITU. The challenge before us is to connect this expertise more effectively with the needs and priorities identified by Member States.

Throughout the preparatory process of this Dialogue, developing countries have consistently emphasized that AI governance should promote sustainable development while contributing to trustworthy, inclusive and people-centred digital ecosystems, including through the promotion of information integrity, tolerance and respect in the digital space. At the same time, one message has consistently emerged: governance alone is not enough. Governance must be accompanied by implementation.

The Group believes that our collective efforts should focus on delivering practical outcomes. In this regard, we would like to highlight four areas that could guide our work in the period ahead.

First, strengthening artificial intelligence capacity-building as a permanent pillar of international cooperation. Capacity-building should move beyond isolated training activities and support the development and strengthening of institutions, universities, research centres, innovation ecosystems, regulatory authorities and public administrations. Technology transfer, technical cooperation, fair access to data and digital infrastructure, and strengthened South-South and triangular cooperation must also remain integral components of our collective efforts.

Second, operationalizing innovative voluntary financing options for artificial intelligence capacity-building. Financing should become an integral component of global artificial intelligence governance, enabling developing countries to build the infrastructure, human capital and institutional capacities required to participate meaningfully in the artificial intelligence ecosystem. The Secretary-General's report on innovative voluntary financing options for artificial intelligence capacity-building has highlighted the importance of mobilizing resources to support Member States, particularly developing countries.
Third, making this Global Dialogue a platform that connects policy discussions with implementation. Beyond exchanging views, it should facilitate partnerships, identify opportunities for technical cooperation, promote knowledge-sharing and improve access to expertise available across the United Nations system.

Fourth, continuing to strengthen coherence across the United Nations. The Independent International Scientific Panel, the Global Dialogue, and the broader United Nations system should work in a mutually reinforcing manner, ensuring that scientific evidence informs policy discussions and that policy discussions translate into practical support for Member States.

In this regard, the Panel can provide scientific evidence. Member States, through this Dialogue, can provide political direction. The United Nations system can help translate both into practical cooperation, partnerships and support for countries.

If we succeed, this Dialogue will not simply become another annual meeting. It will become the principal United Nations platform where evidence, policy and implementation come together to ensure that artificial intelligence contributes to sustainable development and leaves no country behind.

Mr./Madam Chair,
 
The Group reiterates that the United Nations remains the most legitimate and inclusive forum to advance international cooperation on artificial intelligence. Member States must remain at the centre of this process, with full respect for national sovereignty, national circumstances, development priorities and policy space.

At the same time, we recognize the importance of safe, secure, trustworthy, ethical people-centred and environmentally responsible artificial intelligence. Transparency, accountability, human oversight, safeguards against bias and discrimination, and respect for international law are essential. But these principles must be accompanied by concrete support to ensure that all countries can implement them.

The success of this Dialogue will not be measured by the number of meetings we convene or the statements we deliver. It will be measured by whether more developing countries gain access to knowledge, infrastructure, financing, technology and partnerships.

We have built the architecture.

We have established the institutions.

We now have an independent scientific foundation to guide our work. The next challenge is implementation.
Let this first Global Dialogue mark the transition from building institutions to building capacities; from identifying challenges to delivering solutions; and from dialogue to action.

The Group of 77 and China remains committed to working with all partners to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a force for sustainable development, shared prosperity and international cooperation.

Together, let us ensure that the future of artificial intelligence is not shaped by the few, but built with the participation of all, for the benefit of all.

I thank you.