13 January 2006
South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma visited the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday to assume, on behalf of South Africa, the chair of the Group of 77 (G77) nations.
The G77 is the largest coalition of developing countries in the United Nations, working to articulate and promote the interests of poorer countries and improve their joint negotiating capacity on major international economic and development issues in the UN system. Founded in 1964, it also helps build cooperation between developing countries and strengthens economic and technical ties.
South Africa takes over the chair of the G77 from Jamaica. A priority of the new leadership will be to maintain the body's effectiveness.
"South Africa will, during its tenure as chair of the G77, be committed to enhancing the position of the group as a constructive and responsible partner in promoting North-South relations in support of the development agenda of the South," said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
"The importance for developing countries of the need to coordinate common positions among themselves on global issues is increasingly being recognised."
Current priorities of the G77 are to ensure that the development challenges of African and other vulnerable countries are addressed; the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; the full implementation of UN conferences and summits, in particular the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the Monterrey Consensus and the World Conference against Racism; improvements in global economic and financial governance; and strengthening the scientific and technological capacities of developing countries.
Although the membership of the G77 has increased to 132 countries since its formation in 1964, the original name has been retained for its historic significance.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
