President Yoweri Museveni, in his inaugural address at the ongoing 3rd South Summit, emphasized Uganda’s commitment to the theme “Leaving No One Behind” and called for international support without conditionalities.
Today, Uganda officially took the helm as the chair of the Group of 77 plus China (G77+China), succeeding the Republic of Cuba.
President Museveni outlined Uganda’s dedication to addressing challenges faced by various countries, particularly in Africa, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States, and he stressed the importance of International financial institutions supporting developing countries without compromising their sovereignty.
Highlighting Uganda’s focus on economic transformation, President Museveni identified key sectors—commercial agriculture, industrialization, services, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)—as crucial for socio-economic development. He emphasized targeted interventions to ensure inclusivity.
Commending the unity within the G77+China Group, President Museveni acknowledged its significant representation, with 80% of the global population and over 40% of global GDP. He urged members to stand firm in addressing global challenges such as poverty, hunger, digital divide, and climate change, emphasizing the need to combat the threat to multilateralism.
President Museveni prioritized the promotion and protection of human rights, emphasizing an objective and non-politicized approach. Taking the chairmanship during the 60th anniversary of the G77, he expressed gratitude for the trust placed in Uganda and outlined priorities, including accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and addressing climate change.
The Vice President of Cuba, Salvador Valdes Mesa, praised President Museveni’s leadership, pledging Cuba’s full support to Uganda’s chairmanship. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, called for reform in the international system, emphasizing the theme “Leaving No One Behind.” The President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis, highlighted the G77’s role in shaping an inclusive world order.
Special Representative of China, Liu Guozhong, affirmed China’s commitment to holistic development without conditions, showcasing past cooperation achievements.
The Summit also featured addresses by H.E. Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, the host country of the Second South Summit.
Established in 1964, the G-77 remains a crucial alliance of developing countries, advocating for their collective economic interests on the global stage.