China has called for the UN80 Initiative to prioritize the needs of developing countries, which represent two-thirds of the United Nations' membership, during a General Assembly briefing this week. Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, delivered the statement on behalf of the newly formed Group of Friends of Global Governance, emphasizing equitable representation and sustainable development.
The UN80 Initiative, launched to mark the organization's 80th anniversary in 2025, seeks to address systemic challenges in global governance. Fu stressed that reforms must strengthen multilateralism, improve efficiency, and ensure transparency while centering on the aspirations of developing nations. 'Development remains the top priority,' the statement noted, citing lagging progress on two-thirds of Sustainable Development Goals.
The Group of Friends, established on December 10 at UN headquarters, outlined three core principles: enhancing UN effectiveness, addressing developing countries' concerns, and maintaining inclusive decision-making. It warned that overlapping mandates and bureaucratic inefficiencies hinder crisis response, urging streamlined operations to boost 'agility and resilience.'
With 2025 marking a critical juncture for the 2030 Agenda, the group called for resource allocation toward capacity building in developing economies. It reaffirmed member states' central role in shaping reforms, stating: 'A more just global governance system must serve all nations equally.'
