United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday highly commended "The Group of 77 and China" for its role in promoting multilateralism and advancing sustainable development.
"I commend your example of collective leadership that works together to promote fair multilateralism and advance sustainable development for all," Guterres said at the body's annual meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York.
"Your coordinated hard work and advocacy played a major role in the adoption of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change," he said.
"Uneven progress in advancing social and economic development has deepened inequalities and injustices within and between countries, leaving many behind," he said.
The UN chief noted that "interlinked crises are challenging multilateralism as never before, but they also provide a chance to demonstrate its value, by working together, revitalizing our multilateral institutions, and reinforcing global norms and practices," he added.
Guterres told the meeting that his commitment to prevention is "prevention of conflict, the worst effect of natural disasters, and of other manmade threats to the cohesion and wellbeing of societies."
Therefore, he said that "it is necessary to always express clearly that the best means of prevention and of sustaining peace is inclusive and sustainable development."
The G77 and China are central to the Sustainable Development Goals' implementation and the reassertion of multilateralism, he said.
"You have already demonstrated that the transformational power of collective leadership really matters. You have led the way on South-South cooperation, and shown how partnerships can be used to mobilize resources and knowledge," he concluded.
