President,

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

I have the honour to deliver this joint statement on behalf of the 83 members of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI).

As we prepare to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the world is confronted with unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is severely lagging behind, while the financing gap continues to widen. Rising unilateralism and protectionism are endangering multilateral cooperation. It is high time for the international community to uphold multilateralism, strengthen solidarity, improve global economic governance and reinvigorate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Development should always be placed at the center of the UN agenda. In face of multi-dimensional challenges, particularly in developing countries, common development and win-win cooperation must be our collective goal. We need to bridge the development divide with enhanced global partnerships based on the 2030 Agenda. The UN80 Initiative should aim to strengthen the development pillar of the UN, by delivering the development mandates in a more effective and efficient manner.

The Group applauds the successful convening of the Fourth Financing for Development Conference. We must turn the Sevilla Commitment into action. More resources need to be mobilized to support developing countries in priority areas, such as poverty eradication, food security, green development and digital transformation. The Group reiterates its call for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on poverty eradication.

As emphasized in both the Sevilla Commitment and the Pact for the Future, developed countries must fulfill their respective ODA and climate financing commitments, and to provide more financial, technological, and capacity-building support to developing countries, instead of cutting funding to UN development system entities. 

Reforming the international financial architecture is essential. It needs to keep pace with the times and reflect the world reality. The governance reform of the international financial institutions, including IMF and World Bank, must be expedited to increase the representation and voice of developing countries. 

The Group is deeply concerned about the increasing unilateral protectionism measures, including the imposition of tarrifs, which are undermining the achievement of SDGs. The international community must recommit to the rules-based multilateral trading system and eliminate these measures. We reiterate as well our call to remove all unilateral coercive measures that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.

Artificial intelligence as well as other information and communication technologies present great potential, and at the same time possible risks if these technologies are not managed or used properly. We support the UN to play a central role in facilitating the global governance of AI, with a special focus on capacity-building in developing countries. The Group welcomes the 2025 World AI Conference to be held in Shanghai, China later this month. The conference will serve as a valuable cooperation platform to promote AI for good and for all.

To conclude, the Group of Friends of GDI stands ready to share development experiences, jointly harness opportunities and undertake practical cooperation with fellow member states. Only by working together, can we realize the vision of a more prosperous future for all, where no one and no country is left behind.

Thank you.