Ceremonial Meeting of the Group of 77
 Handing over ceremony of Chairmanship from Republic of South Africa to Kingdom of Thailand - Remarks by Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative on January 12, 2016

Your Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Thailand;

H.E. Mr. Luwellyn Landers, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa; 

H.E. Mr. Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Acting President of the General Assembly;

Fellow Ambassadors, Excellencies, distinguished delegates;

I should like to begin by congratulating and thanking South Africa for their sterling efforts as Chairman of G77 over the past year and by welcoming Thailand as the incoming Chairman of the Group.
 

However, before I do that, let me emphasize how opportune and how much of a pleasure it is for me, having just taken over my responsibilities in New York to commence my engagements with this meeting of the Group of 77, the largest group in the United Nations.
 

As its founding member and as a large developing country fully committed to the solidarity of the South, India attaches highest importance to its membership of the Group of 77 and to cooperation and solidarity with all its members. 
 

I would like to take this opportunity to restate India's high political commitment to working closely with all members of the Group of 77 and to advancing the interests of all developing countries, both individually as well as collectively.
 

We deeply value the friendship and support of each of the members of this Group and I look forward to further deepening our traditional bonds of cooperation in the coming months and years.
 

Mr. Chairman,
 

South Africa chaired the Group during a particularly momentous period in multilateralism. 
 

2015 will be remembered for several important processes, most notably the path-breaking '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development', the 'Addis Ababa Action Agenda' and the 'Paris Agreement' under UNFCCC.
 

The sagacious leadership and tireless efforts of South Africa as President ensured that the Group's unified voice in all these processes was carried with force and conviction. 
 

For their excellent stewardship of the Group last year, we owe South Africa - in particular the Permanent Representative Amb. Kingsley Mamabolo and his dedicated team - our heartfelt gratitude.
 

Mr. Chairman,
 

Let me also extend our sincere congratulations and a warm welcome to Thailand as they take over the Chairmanship of the Group for this year.
 

I would like to assure the Permanent Representative of Thailand of India's unflinching support to his leadership of the Group.
 

Mr. Chairman,
 

If 2015 was a year of negotiation and deliberation, 2016 should be a time of consolidation and implementation. 
 

The 2030 Agenda including the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the commitments contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda must now be implemented expeditiously and in good faith. 
 

In this process, the objectives, priorities and needs of the developing countries must remain the centre of attention.
 

As we move into an implementation phase, the founding principles of the Group of 77 - equity, solidarity and unity, rooted as they are in our collective aspiration to help our people achieve a life of dignity - are even more relevant. 
 

We must give full meaning to these aspirations in the follow-up processes to be undertaken this year.
 

Like always, India will be resolute in pushing for developing country unity and will spare no effort to give special consideration to the interests of our brothers and sisters from LDCs, SIDS and LLDCs. They can count on our steadfast support on issues of concern to them.
 

Mr. Chairman,
 

Allow me to conclude by wishing the incoming Chairman, the entire Group and each of its members a year full of purposeful endeavor and much success.
 

I thank you.