Foreign Minister, UNDP Resident Representative Laud Successful Leadership of G77 and China
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd, today met with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Jairo Valverde.
During the meeting, UNDP Resident Representative extended congratulations to the Co- operative Republic of Guyana for its successful Chairmanship of the G77 + China throughout 2020. Further, he thanked the Government of Guyana for the opportunity to collaborate on Guyana’s chairmanship of the G77 + China. Noting the challenges posed by COVID-19, Mr. Valverde lauded the efforts of the staff of the Ministry to organize and produce the virtual flagship event on climate change held under the theme “Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID-19”.
“We are honored to have been able to hold the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China (G77 + China)”, Minister Todd stated.
Further, the Foreign Minister emphasized the role of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, in leading the charge of the flagship event. “The outcome of the event speaks directly to his leadership and contribution to the Chairmanship of the G77 + China,” the Foreign Minister said.
According to Minister Todd, the technical support provided through Guyana’s partnership with the local UNDP office proved instrumental in the success of Guyana’s Chairmanship.
Minister Todd also commended the commitment and efforts of the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, her team, and the staff of the Ministry.
They also discussed financing for small states in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the reclassification of Caribbean economies, among mutual areas of interest.
Guyana will officially handover the Chairmanship of the G77 and China to the Republic of Guinea on Monday, January 18, 2021.
The UN continues to be a strong and trusted development partner of Guyana that has aided in the promotion of the implementation of the global development agenda in the country.