South Centre: Handover Ceremony of Chairmanship of G-77 and China in Geneva

Ambassador Delmer Urbizo of Honduras today (12 February) handed over the Chairmanship of Group of 77 to Zimbabwe at an official ceremony in Palais des Nations, Geneva. Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa of Zimbabwe has been elected as the new Chairman of the Group in Geneva.

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre, spoke on the behalf of Mr. Benjamin Mkapa, Chairperson of the South Centre during the event.

Dr. Tandon reminded the audience that we are living through exciting but challenging times, and there is a need for more and not less South-South cooperation to deal with the challenges ahead. Some of the challenges the South has to face include in the area of energy, finance, trade, climate change, on intellectual property rights and on access to knowledge. South Centre will continue to work on these issues to providing timely assistance to developing countries.

After formally accepting the chairmanship of the Group of 77, Ambassador Chipaziwa provided a short commentary for the South Centre TV on the challenges ahead for the Group of 77.