President, 

I have the honor to deliver the joint statement on behalf of the 43 members of the Group of Friends of Global Governance.

The UN80 Initiative comes at a moment when the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. The goal of the Initiative should reflect the aspirations of the vast majority of Member States, that is to uphold multilateralism, to strengthen the UN, to safeguard international rule of law, and to improve global governance. 

We thank the Co-Chairs and the Secretariat for their dedicated efforts in advancing the UN80 Initiative. Looking ahead, we would like to highlight three key points:

First, the UN80 Initiative must focus on improving both the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN's work.

For 80 years, the UN has made significant contributions in areas of international peace and security, global development, and human rights. That said, in order to make it better fit for today's challenges, the UN needs adaptation, revitalization, and strengthening.

To this end, the UN needs to reduce duplication, eliminate overlap, and improve efficiency. 

More importantly, the UN needs to enhance its agility, responsiveness, and resilience, and better deliver. 

That means, the UN80 Initiative is not simply about cutting budget or downsizing staff, but also about increasing investment in key areas based on the needs of Member States. It should uphold the UN Charter, preserve the intergovernmental nature of the UN, and promote balanced progress across the three pillars. It should strengthen the UN's ability to serve the Member States and all people around the world.

Second, the UN80 Initiative must address the concerns of developing countries, who make up two-thirds of UN membership. 

Development is the top priority for developing countries. Yet two-thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals are lagging. 

Reform of the development pillar must take into account the vast needs and challenges of developing countries. Mechanisms and resources should prioritize development and support the 2030 Agenda including through capacity building. 

The principle of equitable geographical representation is important. Representation and voice of developing countries matter, which is also central to the Pact for the Future. The under-representation of developing countries in the Secretariat must be addressed, not aggravated. 

The implication of mandate reform on the development pillar and on the interests of developing countries must be fully considered, and their concerns genuinely accommodated.

Third, the UN80 process must remain transparent and inclusive. 

The UN is an intergovernmental organization. Member States should play the central role and participate on an equal footing in the UN80 process and across all its workstreams.

We appreciate the Co-Chairs' consultations with Member States over the past three months. We trust the Co-Chairs will continue to facilitate cooperation among Member States for concrete actions and the adoption of the outcome document by consensus.

President, 

The Group of Friends of Global Governance stands ready to work with all parties in advancing the UN80 Initiative in a direction that supports a more just and equitable global governance system, strengthens the UN for the long term, and serves the common interests of all Member States.

I thank you.