Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, addressed the Forty-Fifth Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (G77) and China, via virtual platform on 30th November, 2021.
The Ministerial Meeting allowed for an exchange of views on major priority issues such as the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the obstacles it poses to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his address to his fellow Ministers, Minister Browne commended the G77 and China for the unceasing solidarity and unity within the Group itself. This solidarity was demonstrated through South-South cooperation, where many developing countries were able to access vital medical equipment and supplies, as well as vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Building on the recently concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which took place in Glasgow, United Kingdom from 31st October to 12th November, 2021, Minister Browne intimated that the Group must not lose sight of the sense of urgency to scaling up action and support to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
Additionally, Minister Browne reiterated the need for the continued global recognition of Small Island Developing States as a special case for sustainable development.
The Minister congratulated the present Chair of the G77 and China, the Republic of Guinea, for their work in leading the Group throughout 2021 and congratulated The Islamic Republic of Pakistan upon its election as the next Chair of the G77 and China for 2022.
The G77 and China is the largest negotiating bloc of States in the multilateral system. The Group celebrated its fifty-seventh (57th) year anniversary in June 2021.
