Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd today delivered the keynote address at the 49th Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Group of 77 (G-77) Chapters, held virtually.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd
The Foreign Minister stressed the need for deepening South-South cooperation and coordination within the Group of 77 (G-77) in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In his remarks, Minister Todd stated that Guyana is proud for the second time, to be leading the Group in its efforts to advance the cause of sustainable development, by shaping international cooperation and defining critical aspects of multilateral normative and legal frameworks.
The Foreign Minister also noted that the long-term impacts of the pandemic are yet to be fully assessed and analyzed.
“There is a need, therefore, for us to rethink many aspects of our development strategies and approaches, and the underlying international cooperation arrangements that support them,” Minister Todd said.
Further, he stressed the need for the Group’s 134 Member States and China to build a stronger foundation of relationships, through South-South Cooperation, and with development partners in the context of multilateral engagements.
Together, the Gevena, Nairobi, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G-24) Chapters create a coordinating forum within the G-77 to oversee negotiations with various regional groups. Moreover, the coordination meetings serve to cement consensus on issues faced by the Group.
The G-77 was established on June 15, 1964, by 67 developing countries signatories. Then, at the first Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 held in Algiers, Algeria in October 1967, the Group adopted the Charter of Algiers, which led to the creation of Chapters with liaison offices in around the globe.
