His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana meets with Foreign Minister to review agenda for G-77 and China
On Friday, September 11, 2020, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd, and team to discuss priorities related to Guyana’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China (G-77 and China).
During the meeting, H.E. President Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to reinvigorating South-South cooperation to further strengthen the developmental efforts of the South and its participation in the global economy.
As the current Chairman of the largest intergovernmental negotiating body within the United Nations system, Guyana will represent the 134 Member States and China on the global stage at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which begins on September 15, 2020.
The President also noted that the G-77 will also place emphasis on COVID-19 and the Global South’s response to the ongoing pandemic. Furthermore, issues such as climate change, food security, gender equality, and human rights among others will be highlighted during several upcoming high profile engagements.
On November 22, 2019, Guyana was elected to serve as Chair of the G-77 and China for 2020. The nation then assumed leadership of the intergovernmental organization on January 15, 2020, during an official handover ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Group was established on June 15, 1964, by 77 developing countries signatories. It has since grown to become the largest intergovernmental organization and presently serves as a platform for its Member States and China to articulate and promote collective economic interests and enhance joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues in the United Nations system.
A calendar of events will be announced shortly to further inform the public and the international community of the nation’s undertaking during this Chairmanship.