Ecuador takes chair of UN group of 134 developing countries

Ecuador on 14 January 2017 took over the chair of the United Nations Group of 77. It took the charge of Group of 77 from Thailand.

After taking the chairmanship of the group, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said that the group will continue promoting "social and economic equality." He also said that this quality can be brought only if "poverty, inequality and exclusion" are eradicated. This eradication will allow people to live with "sovereignty, dignity and in peace."

Thailand Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said that in 2016 his country focused on how to implement the 17 UN goals for 2030, which would help in promoting development and good governance, and preserve the environment. Thailand passed the baton of the group to Ecuador.

New Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the G-77 is his "preferred forum" to implement his vision including seeing the new goals become reality and reforming UN operations.

Group of 77

The Group of 77 (G77) at the United Nations is a coalition of developing nations. It was designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations.

In short G77 promotes the interests of the 134 developing countries it represents at the United Nations, including China.

China has never officially joined the G77 but the nations provide consistent political support and financial donation to the G77, since 1994.

The group is named as Group of 77 or G77 because at the time of formation it had 77 founding members. By November 2013, the group or organisation expanded to 134 member countries. The group was formed on 15 June 1964 with a Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.