16 June 2004 – In a show of RP’s continued commitment and support to the Group of 77, the Department of Foreign Affairs sent a delegation to the 11th Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XI), which is being held from 13 to 18 June 2004 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Enrique Manalo, heads the delegation.

“In concordance with our country’s continuing tradition of advocacy to the ideals of the G-77, our delegation, headed by Ambassador Manalo is now attending the 11th Session of the UNCTAD to add to the voice of the developing countries in the pursuit of our collective interest for economic development,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said.

Established in 1964 together with UNCTAD, the G–77 is the largest Third World coalition in the UN. The Group allows developing countries to articulate and promote their collective economic interests, strengthen their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues in the UN system, and promote economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.

The Philippines chaired the Group in 1995, where it succeeded in facilitating the adoption of 31 resolutions by the 50th UN General Assembly on a multitude of issues that affect developing countries. Such issues include financing for development, debt relief, international trade, women, the programme of action for least developed countries (LDCs), migration, and human settlements (HABITAT II). The resolutions also encompassed wide ranging issues on environment and sustainable development, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, prevention of desertification and drought, the World Food Programme, a review of Agenda 21, and the fight against malaria. During its chairmanship, the Philippines substantially advanced the cause of sustainable development and forged closer South-South Cooperation.

The G–77 remains committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include the objective of halving the incidence of world poverty by 2015.

The G–77 held its first meeting in Algiers in October 1967 and adopted the “Chapter of Algiers,” which embodied the Group’s vision of collectively advancing the development of the Third World. The Group currently has 132 member states and is headquartered at the UN office in New York. The State of Qatar holds this year’s chairmanship of the Group.

Prior to the UNCTAD XI, the Philippine delegation attended a Special Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 and China (G – 77)  on 11 – 12 June 2004 in Sao Paolo, Brazil.  The Special Ministerial Meeting was convened to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the G–77 and to prepare for the 11th Session the UNCTAD. - END