G-77 Must Work Towards Greater Self Reliance – Knight

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, K.D. Knight has challenged member states of the Group of 77 & China to work towards greater self-reliance and not to relent in the push for equality in the international economic system.
“We cannot afford to be left behind and must exert all efforts to share in the benefits of global expansion. Our development has to be driven by us and we should seek and exploit all available opportunities for advancement,” Minister Knight stated.
His comments came during the ceremony to officially hand over the chairmanship of the G-77 & China to Jamaica on Tuesday (Jan. 25), at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Jamaica will chair the powerful G-77 bloc for the 2005 calendar year, taking over from Qatar.
A near full assembly, which included United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, witnessed Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, passing the gavel to Minister Knight.
Stating that poverty, hunger and diseases were common enemies of mankind, Minister Knight called for their elimination by the global community within the framework of international co-operation and through the commitment of the necessary resources.
“From market access to technology issues and financial flows, we need fairer rules and arrangements which provide better opportunities for the developing world,” Minister Knight stated.
In outlining Jamaica’s plan of action for 2005, Minister Knight stated the government’s dedication in working to advance the common objectives of theG-77 and to make progress towards a more equitable and inclusive global economic system.
Formed in 1964, the G-77 and China is the main voice for developing countries on matters of economic and social issues in the United Nations system.