H.E. Xie Bohua, Ambassador of China to Vanuatu
Reported by Daily Post, Hon. Moana Carcasses, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, traveled to Fiji on 7th May to attend the G77 high-level panel of Eminent Personalities of the South. When reading this news, I could not help recalling the development history of the Group 77. Working as a counselor in Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN from 2001 to 2006, I myself had close links with the organization.
The G-77 was established in 1964, when the developing countries and the developed ones seriously disagreed on major issues during the first United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD) held in Geneva. To change the imbalanced negotiation situation in which the North prevailed over the South, 77 developing countries came together and issued a Joint Declaration of the Group of 77 demanding the establishment of a new order for international economy. As a result, the organization came into being. The G-77 adopted its Charter on the occasion of its first Ministerial Meeting held in Algiers, Algeria on 25 October 1967.The Charter points out the G-77 is an important organization within the UN and its duty is to represent the position of the developing countries, to safeguard the interests of the developing countries and strengthen the solidarity among the developing countries.
The establishment of the G-77 reflects the historical trend in which the developing countries united to defend their common interests. Declaration for the Establishment of a New International Economic Order and its Programme of Action, initiated by the G-77 and adopted by the 6th Special Session of United Nations General Assembly in 1974, outlined a series of principals in establishing a new international economic order : all countries must be entitled to equal solution of international economic issues, to permanent sovereignty over their natural resources and domestic economic activities, to the establishment of organizations of material and primary products. The adoption of the Declaration is a milestone, for it was the first time for developing countries to gain substantial benefits through collective negotiations. The success of the session encouraged the developing countries and strengthened their confidence to defend their own interests.
Since its establishment in 1960s, the G-77 gradually reached out from UNCTAD to UN headquarters in New York, other UN organizations in Vienna, Geneva, Nairobi, Paris, and Rome. Its focus varies from economy and trade to environment, climate change, social development, science and education, culture, women and children, housing, poverty elimination, finance, UN reform, etc. The G-77 plays an active role and showcased solidarity in GA, ECSCO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, World Conference on Women Beijing, Doha Rounds, Rio+20, and UN Climate Change Conferences in Copenhagen and Cancun.
Until now, the solidarity of the G-77 results in great achievements. Thanks to the fact that the developing countries enjoy the majority in equal voting rights, some relatively reasonable and pro-developing countries international agreements, of which several treaties and decisions are legal binding, are passed by the UN. The G77 also help push forward the establishment of some new bodies such as the Sustainable Development Commission. Many plans including the UN Millennium Development Goals are being carried out to help poor and less developed countries.
The chairmanship of the G-77 rotates every one year on a regional basis. Countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America have the chances to chair. Argentina in Latin America hold the chairmanship in 2011, and Algeria from Africa chaired in 2012, Fiji 2013 in Asia. Ministerial Meeting is the supreme authority of the G-77. Its main publication is called G-77 News Letter. Until May 2013, the membership of the Group has reached 134 countries.
After resuming its legal seat in the UN in 1972, the People’s Republic of China always takes the side of developing countries and actively supports G-77. In April 1974, then Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping elaborated the important theory of “ Three Worlds” in the 6th Special Session of GA. He pointed out the developing countries classified as the Third World are the important power to push forward the establishment of new order of international politics and economy and China backs all reasonable requests and suggestions by the G-77 on the platform of UN.
Although not a formal member of the G-77, China has been a supporter of the Group's positions and has maintained close relations with the Group. The association between the G-77 and China started in connection with the preparations for the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio in June 1992. The Chinese delegation communicated actively and cooperated closely with the G-77. For the first time, the two sides jointly put forward a position paper in the name of G-77 and China. The cooperation model is also called “the G-77and China”.
From then on, the form of cooperation and the working relationship between the G-77 and China has grown from strength to strength, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Rio Declaration and the Agenda in the 21st Century were concluded in the Rio Conference. The principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility was written into the Frame Convention on Climate Change due to the efforts and perseverance of the G77 and China. Under the principle, the international community must take into consideration the economic development, historical duty and per capital emission when taking measures to combat climate change. The developed countries should reduce emission firstly, and meanwhile support the developing countries with capital and technology. After gaining capital and technology support, the developing countries take measures. The special demands and conditions of the least developed countries and the environmentally vulnerable ones should be placed on the priority, emphasized the UNFCC.
High level delegations of China are sent every year to attend Ministerial Meeting of the G-77 and China. Chinese delegation closely communicated and coordinated with G-77. Both sides often proposed drafts in the name of the G-77 and China in the annual GA, UN Economic and Social Council, Sustainable Development Commission, UN Commission on the Status of Women，UNCTAD，UNIDO, etc. In June 2012, the G-77 and China fully cooperated in the third Rio UN Sustainable Conference and tried best to safeguard the interests of the developing countries. The principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility was reiterated. Clear signal is sent out and new energy is injected for the sustainable development of the world. The G-77 and China has become an important power in the UN as well as a symbol of solidarity and strength of the developing countries.
Every year the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN provides financial support for the Office of the Chairman of G-77. Under the request of the rotating Chair country Fiji, 20 China-made vehicles donated by the Chinese government for G77 high-level panel of Eminent Personalities of the South arrived in Natadola in May, 2013.
UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon highly praised the role of the G-77 and China within the UN system. He stated that consistent efforts made by the G-77 and China on poverty elimination related issues demonstrate the potential of the developing countries in sustainable, exclusive and equal economic development. He hoped the G-77 and China continue to play an active role in fields including the setting up of development agenda and sustainable development goals post-2015 and the UN reforms as well.
Against the backdrop of deepened international financial crisis, the international community is faced with the biggest problem --the slowdown of the economy in the long run. Many countries, with the developing ones in particular, are seriously challenged by poverty, diseases, wars, natural disasters. Meantime, the overall strength and international status of developing countries increase gradually and their great potential of development is easy to predict. The question is how the G-77 within the UN to deal with the new challenges and opportunities?
As a key point of international development cooperation for now and in the near future, the outlining of the development agenda post-2015 defines the direction of international cooperation. Based on the UN Millennium Goals, the G-77 should gear up for the core pursuit of realization of development and elimination of poverty through open, transparent and democratic negotiation mechanism under the framework of the UN. Member states should play a dominating role. And the role of civil society and private sectors should also be encouraged.
Key is the year 2013 in comprehensively implementing of the Rio+20 Declaration. The G-77 should urge the international community to show political will in honoring commitments of providing development capital, taking actions, and paying more attention to the influence of climate change on tiny island countries. More efforts should be made in economic and social fields. The G-77 shoulders the obligation to propel sustainable development and promote the common interests of the developing countries.
Solidarity and cooperation is a heritage of the G-77 and also where its power lies. No matter how the international situation changes, the friendship and common belief of developing countries are unbreakable. The G-77 should enhance the South –South cooperation on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit. Coordination and cooperation are also encouraged among G-77 in multilateral negotiations to narrow disputes and maintain solidarity so as to promote the common development.
Fiji is the first country in the south pacific to chair the G-77. I believe that under the Fiji government and Prime Minister Bainimarama the G-77and China will continue to exert its advantages as the United Nation's biggest bloc, bellow out its common concern, push forwards the North-South dialogue ,enhance the South-South cooperation, safeguard the world peace ,and promote the common development.