Egypt chairs G77/ China starting Friday

CAIRO – 12 January 2018: Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Amr Aboul Atta will attend the handover ceremony of the chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China). Egypt will take over the presidency from Ecuador, which led the group last year, according to a statement issued by Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.

“Egypt’s chairmanship of the G-77/China in 2018 will witness a reforming term in the United Nations in regards to development, administrative reforms, security and peace,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Abu Zeid stressed that the G-77/China represents the developing countries within the United Nations. The aim of the groups to represent and boost economic and developmental interests for Member States.

The G-77/China was established in 1964 by 77 developing countries; they convened for the first time in Algiers in October 1967. The G77/China members increased to 134 countries; but the original name remains for its historic significance.

Egypt could help achieve the interests of the Arab group in bringing about sustainable development and ensuring food, water and energy security, in addition to combating poverty, the statement read.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, stressed earlier that Egypt’s presidency over the G-77/China will increase the importance of Cairo’s roll in adopting a unified stance of the developing states on the issues of climate change and the UN’s development and administrative reform pathways.