Statement by Minister Osman Saleh at the 50th Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 and China

Statement by H.E. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea

At

The 50th Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 and China,

25 September 2026

 H.E. Mr. Mario Tulbovic, the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,

Excellencies

First, allow me to congratulate and thank Uruguay for the able leadership of the Group throughout the year 2026.

I wish also to congratulate and welcome the incoming chair, Rwanda.

Mr. Chairman

Excellencies

The cascading crises and the escalating conflicts, wars and geopolitical tensions have created a precarious global landscape, where multilateralism is deliberately being attacked, and many times replaced by unilateral actions and coercion.

In this complicated context, Eritrea’s resilience, determination and steadfastness has frequently been tested by external hostilities and threats.

We remain committed to the genuine multilateralism and cooperation that is based on mutual respect and a dialogue of equal and sovereign nations.

Eritrea is also, as resilient, strong and determined as it has always been, and is able to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity while striving to thrive and develop.

Mr. Chairman,

The challenges the developing countries continue to face, demand greater solidarity, unity and strong resolve from our Group. We need to continue to act as one to advance, and place, our collective interest, especially the development agenda, at the center of the UN system.

Global South is better placed to lead the efforts, steer the direction and rectify and reorientate the current path of multilateralism for the collective interests of all humanity.

The UN80 initiative is one of the important processes for us. This process has achieved some encouraging outcomes so far across mandate governance, Secretariat efficiency and system‑wide reform.

As we inter a decisive phase of this initiative, we reiterate that the prerogatives and the exclusive decision-making authority of member States, and the mandates they establish, especially development mandates, should continue to be protected.

Any mergers, structural reform, country team reconfiguration and strengthening of the RC systems, as well as the reset of regional architecture, should be anchored on the realities on the ground and on the countries’ priorities, leadership and ownership.

We support this initiative, and hope it contributes into a United Nations that is more democratic, representative, efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of developing countries.

Through the UN80 or other initiatives, we should strive to create and preserve a United Nations that acknowledges, addresses and fulfills the development needs of the global south.

Eritrea reaffirm its committed to the principles of UN charter, goals and objectives of the group of 77 and China and the South-South cooperation.

I thank You!