At the First Ambassadorial meeting of the Group of 77 and China, Ambassador Munir Akram, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan in his capacity as a Chair of Group of 77+ China said that “Our responsibility today to address the multiple challenges facing our countries is daunting”. “We can only do so if our response is coherent and concerted and if our Group remains united” Ambassador Munir Akram, insisted, says a press release received here today from New York. Ambassador Munir Akram while discussing the confronted challenges to the world community said further that: “Since 2007, when Pakistan last chaired the Group, the global economic and social conditions have changed radically”. He recalled Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s statement in the G77 handover ceremony saying: “we are confronted with a triple challenge: recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic; achievement of the SDGs - during the remaining decade of action; and the existential threat of climate change”. While deliberating on the responsibilities of the Group of 77 in the past he recalled that: “In the past, the Group of G77 has shaped the discourse and outcomes of multilateral processes on a range of issues of collective importance to its members” As a Chair of the Group, Ambassador Munir Akram, elaborated on some of the actions Pakistan had proposed: -- G77 to develop a declaration on vaccine equity, that is hampering recovery of the developing countries from Covid-19 pandemic. -- G77 to ensure its voice is heard at the G20 (industrialized countries), G7 (rich countries), IMF (International Monetary Fund) and other decision-making platforms on the rising and unsustainable debt burden, as a major concern among many developing countries, -- G77 to ensure that the new general allocation of $650 billion special Drawing Rights (SDRs) by the IMF are utilized for the recovery, and press for their reallocation to the developing countries who need the liquidity; -- G77 to Prioritize for unification and universalization of measures on social protection during 2022, for which Pakistan is leading discussion on the Declaration to establish a global knowledge platform; -- Underscore the role of UN Development System and private sector to substantially upscale and accelerate investments to bridge the global infrastructure gap; -- A follow-up of the Glasgow Climate Pact to ensure reflection of G77 priorities in the actions proposed in the pact; -- Convening a series of consultations to enable the Group to formulate a common position on the issues of interest in the Secretary-General's “Our Common Agenda” report for the developing countries; -- Consideration of the creation of the ‘South-South Trade Promotion Bureau (SSTPB)' to boost flow of goods between them; Three things are essential: availability of adequate finance; significant investments in sustainable infrastructure; and the full utilization of science, technology, and innovation, he concluded. Ambassador Munir Akram expressed his gratitude for the confidence reposed in Pakistan to Chair the Group in these challenging times. He also thanked Guinea for so skillfully guiding the Group last year. Pakistan is Chairing the Group of G77 and China fourth time.
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