Speaking at the opening ceremony of the bloc’s Summit in this capital, the UN Secretary-General insisted on the importance of the Group to remedy centuries of injustice and neglect, as expressed in its founding Declaration.

This function continues to be as important as it was then; its members are the engine of sustainable development, he said.

He acknowledged the contributions of the G77+China in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, as well as their efforts at the United Nations to seek global solutions and promote solidarity.

However, global systems and projects have failed them, Guterres remarked, recognizing the impact of the global configuration to generate problems in the South such as poverty, hunger, rising prices, increasing debt and more frequent climate disasters.

“The conclusion is clear: the world is failing developing countries.

To change this situation, we need action at the national level to ensure good governance, mobilize resources and prioritize sustainable development,” he added. To this end, he insisted, the G77+China must raise their voices to fight for a world that works for all.

In the Secretary-General’s view, that goal calls for a strengthening of multilateralism with new opportunities for leadership on the world stage while demanding strong and effective institutions.

The upcoming Sustainable Development Goals Summit next week and the Summit of the Future in 2024 are real opportunities to move forward, he stressed.

Guterres thanked the members of the bloc for their support to these initiatives and acknowledged the leadership of Cuba at the helm of the G77+China during the year.

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