G77 summit hopes to reach anti-poverty targets of MDGs

FE Team | Published: June 16, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, June 15 (BSS): The "Commemorative Summit of G77 and China" began here Saturday evening (June 14) with attendance of the leaders of developing nations including Bangladesh president Abdul Hamid to draft a global anti- poverty agenda, reports BSS.
In presence of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, Bolivian president Juan Evo Morales Ayma inaugurated the G77 summit at 8 pm (local time), which marks the 50th anniversary of the group's founding under the theme "For a New World Order for Living Well."
In the inaugural session, Ban Ki-moon urged the world leaders to work together to reduce poverty and inequality, while balancing the needs of the environment and addressing climate change.
This year's summit comes amidst the 1,000 days of accelerated actions to reach the anti-poverty targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and as the international community is working on a post-2015 sustainable development agenda to replace them.
On his arrival at Fexpocruz, the summit venue, president Abdul Hamid was received by his Bolivian counterpart Juan Evo Morales Ayma.
Apart from Bangladesh president, other presidents, vice presidents and prime ministers of more than 30 countries under Group 77 including Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, Cuba, Haiti, Chad, Costa Rica, Iran, Tanzania, Zambia, Guinea, Gabon, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Dominica, Namibia and Swaziland are attending the two-day summit to discuss various agenda including food security, poverty reduction and creating sustainable ways to protect the earth.
The UN secretary general stressed that a new development agenda must be based on human-rights and the rule of law, and in line with the UN Charter.
The Bolivian president said that the G77 Summit will re-launch the vision of 133 members of Group 77 to serve the people of the countries of the world.
President Abdul Hamid addressed the summit on Sunday (June 15) and also expected to hold bilateral talks with his Bolivian counterpart.
After the inaugural ceremony, president Abdul Hamid joined an official dinner with other heads of state and government at the Banquet Hall of Fexpocruz.
The G77, established in 1964, is the largest inter-governmental organisation of developing countries within the UN system with a membership of 133. Though the membership of G77 has increased to 133 countries to date, the original name was retained given its historic significance.
The group provides an avenue for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic issues within the UN system and promote South-South Cooperation for development, director general (economic affairs) of Foreign Ministry M Riaz Hamidullah told the news agency.
Mr Riaz, one of the members of Bangladesh delegation, said Bangladesh chaired G77 in 1982-83 and over the past four decades, Bangladesh has been active in G77 on a wide ranging issues, especially on its social and economic agenda.
"Bangladesh's representation at the highest level by the president at the summit would demonstrate the country's commitment and sincere engagement within the Group," he said.
Earlier on Saturday morning, president Abdul Hamid visited more than 500 years' old Metropolitana Bas-lica de San Lorenzo Catedral, a UNESCO heritage site in Santa Cruz.