President Museveni has noted that the idea of ‘Leaving no one behind’ as per the G-77 plus China Summit theme; cannot be realized unless challenges and needs faced by countries in special situations have adequately been addressed.
Such countries according to Gen. Museveni include African Countries, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.
In addition; he says, there are specific challenges faced by many middle-income Countries, conflict and post-conflict Countries and Countries and peoples living under foreign occupation.
“These challenges continue to undermine the efforts of these Countries to ensure that no one is left behind. In our view, the International financial institutions and multilateral development banks must support the national priorities of developing Countries without any conditionalities that infringe on these Countries’ sovereignty,” he said as he assumed leadership of G-77 plus China bloc.
Museveni who is to lead this bloc for the next full year, said Uganda remains committed to the pledge to “leave no one behind”.
He called upon the international community to implement this by ensuring targeted support to enable countries in dire need to address their challenges without any conditionalities.
UGANDA ON WEALTH CREATION
The head of state said Uganda has accelerated its national efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure that no one is left behind at a time when the country is striving to build back better from the COVID Pandemic and respond to other global challenges.
He informed the heads of state and delegations that Uganda has identified four key sectors of wealth creation and job creation. He outlined them as commercial agriculture, industrialization, services and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support the country’s socio-economic transformation. “Government is implementing targeted interventions in the above key sectors, with a view to ensure that no one is left behind,” the President added.
Gen Museveni commended the unity within the G77+China Group which he said has enabled it to stay on course to promote and defend its members’ collective economic interests at the United Nations. He urged members to continue embracing the founding principles that gave life to what he termed as a heterogeneous and representative group of nations.
“Currently, the population of the G77 and China represent 80% of the global population. In addition, its GDP accounts for more than 40% of the global GDP. This shows that in spite of the challenges, the group has registered progress in defending and promoting the interests of developing Countries,” the President noted.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Museveni further called on the group to remain united in their demand to the international community to support developing Countries to urgently address the global challenges, in particular; poverty, hunger, digital divide and climate change.
He also called for an end to the threat to multilateralism and the rise in unilateralism, which makes all susceptible to the impacts of the current unjust international economic order.
“As the G77 and China, we should continue to work collectively to ensure that we achieve an international economic order that is just and equitable as envisaged 59 years ago at the founding of the Group,” Museveni said.
DON’T POLITICIZE HUMAN RIGHTS
About promotion and protection of Human rights, President Museveni said this remains a top priority, including the right to development, in line with our national legal framework and international commitments.
He however, emphasized the need to handle the issue of human rights objectively as opposed to being politicized.
THANK YOU G-77 plus CHINA
Museveni commended the bloc for entrusting Uganda with chairmanship of this bloc, adding that it’s coming is timely as it coincides with Uganda’s 60th anniversary.
He said this trust in Uganda will see the bloc continue to yearn for a revitalized multilateral system which is capable of adequately addressing current and emerging global challenges.
“Uganda’s Chairmanship will strive to further promote: acceleration of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; scaling up action to address climate change and biodiversity loss; strengthening international tax cooperation; financing for development; fight against illicit financial flows and strengthening digital cooperation, among others,” Museveni said.
Meanwhile, the Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa who handed over to tools of authority to Museveni, commended his leadership and describes him as a promoter of peace and stability in Africa and the world. He promised Cuba’s total support to his leadership of G77+China.
“The Group has been a key player in different UN negotiations including those on sustainable development. Cuba’s leadership of the G77+ China in several international meetings has allowed us to make the interests of the developing countries heard in this critical forum. It was a source of much pride and honor to lead the G77 China which we carried out in difficult circumstances,” H. E. Salvador Valdes Mesa said.
In another development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres who also addressed the Summit, called upon member states to live up to the expectations of the theme “Leaving no one behind” at a time when many countries face political, social and economic challenges.
He also called for an all-inclusive United Nations Security.
“Righting our troubled world depends on effective global action yet the international system is out of date, out of time, and out of step. The United Nations Security Council is paralyzed by geopolitical divisions and its composition does not reflect the realities of today’s world. It must be reformed,” Guterres said, adding that in the new technological era, no one should be left behind.
MUSEVENI A GLOBAL GIANT NOW!
His latest achievement makes him global power player. Already in Africa under the AU arrangement, Gen. Museveni was bestowed upon a title of ‘Champion of Integration’.
The Ugandan President will now in the next one year lead the G-77 plus China, the largest negotiating bloc of developing countries in the United Nations. The bloc provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests.
Uganda took over the leadership from Cuba during the ongoing 3rd South Summit of the G77 plus China Heads of State and Government at Speke Resort Convention Center, Munyonyo under the theme; “Leaving No one Behind”
