Group of 77 [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.g77.org/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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(New York, 12 January 2016)
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR LUWELLYN LANDERS, DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AT THE HANDOVER CEREMONY OF THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE GROUP OF 77
[Concluding text]
Excellencies;
Global inequities in the international trade system continue to impact on the ability of developing countries to accelerate the social and economic development of our people. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights the importance of addressing this challenge, particularly through multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Progress was made at the 10th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, held in Nairobi, Kenya, during December 2015, on Least Developed Countries’ issues.

It was however regrettable from a broader developing country perspective that there was no agreement on reaffirming the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) as the framework for the continued negotiations. Developing countries were united in Nairobi in reaffirming the centrality of the DDA to the WTO and the negotiations. Moving forward, it will be crucial for developing countries to maintain this unity. It is vital for developing countries that the WTO is a global forum that advocates for the reform of the international trading regime, in response to persisting distortions and imbalances.

Excellencies;
Other significant processes over the last year, where the members of the Group effectively pursued its principled objectives included:
– The adoption of a resolution on the basic principles on Sovereign Debt Restructuring;
– The adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030;
– The adoption of Resolution 69/292 on 19 June 2015 pertaining to the development of an international legally-binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction; and
– The adoption of the Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Overall Review of the Implementation of WSIS Outcomes.

Excellencies;
A strong and robust multilateral system is in the interest of developing countries, and the G77 and China shares the collective commitment to improving the efficient and effective functioning of the United Nations, in particular through the adequate resourcing of the organisation to deliver on its mandates. Member states recently adopted a regular budget for the UN and a reformed UN common system that is “fit for purpose”. We also maintained the current methodology of the scales of assessment, which reflects the changes in the relative economic situations of Member States and safeguards the principle that developing countries should not be assigned to the same level of contributions as developed countries.

In this coming year, the Group will need to build on these achievements and ensure there is an adequately resourced UN system to support the achievement of the SDGs and sustainable development in general.

In closing Excellencies, all that remains is for me to have the honour and pleasure to hand-over the Chair’s gavel to His Excellency Minister Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. We wish Thailand great success in leading the Group in 2016 and assure you of South Africa’s continuing support during your tenure.