The Honorable Prime Minister of Nagamootoo of Guyana,

Honorable Foreign Minister Al-Maliki of Palestine,

Distinguished colleagues:

At the outset, I wish to pay tribute to and thank Palestine, the outgoing Chair of “Group of 77 and China” for the year of 2019. Over the past year, great progress had been achieved under its leadership. We highly appreciate Ambassador Mansour and the Palestinian delegation for their outstanding leadership and dedication.

I wish to congratulate Guyana on its assumption of the chairmanship of the Group for 2020. G77 and China are a strong force in the international affairs, in which we are playing an ever more important role and have showcased our vitality and influence.

I am confident that under the leadership of Guyana and with the joint efforts of all its members, G 77 and China will strengthen solidarity and cooperation to make greater contributions for the development of developing countries.

China will provide financial support to Guyana to fulfill its mandates as the Chair.

Mr. Chairman,

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the beginning of the “Decade of Action” and for delivery for the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Our group members should focus on the following tasks:

First, we should firmly safeguard the solidarity and common interests of developing countries. In the face of extremely complex international situation and severe external challenges, members of the group should

step up our commitment to multilateralism and upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, strengthen solidarity and cooperation in response to major challenges in jointly safeguarding the common interests of developing countries.

Second, we should push for more emphasis by the United Nations on development issues. Attention should be given to specific difficulties and challenges faced by LDCs, SIDs, landlocked developing countries and African countries.

Greater input should be made by the international community in poverty reduction, connectivity and education in order to strengthen the countries’ own capabilities in following a development path that is in line with their own national conditions based on their own decisions so as to promote peace through development.

Third, it is necessary to insist on creating a better environment for the development of developing countries. The group should push for the developed countries to honor their commitments in ODA in building an open world economy and fight against

unilateralism and protectionism. Never should we allow for any obstacles created for developing countries or depriving them of their right to development.

Fourth, it is imperative to vigorously promote South-South cooperation. The importance of North-South cooperation as the main channel has not changed.

South-South Cooperation, as an important platform for the developing countries to work together for their development, should be further tapped for its potential. China is ready to, under the frameworks such as

China-UN Peace and Development Fund and the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, strengthen its cooperation with other group members. China will actively participate in the third South Summit for fruitful results.

Mr. Chairman,

As the largest developing country, China shares the same future with the same need for development with the G77 members. Thus, we have always attached great importance to our cooperation with the G77. In 2020, China will have completed the goal for a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and lifted all the rural poor out of poverty under the current standard. After years of development, China has found a development path in line with its own national conditions. Looking to the future, we would be happy to share our development ideas and experiences with members of the Group of 77 so that we can all achieve development together and jointly build a global community of shared future.