Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will leave for New York on Monday to participate in a ceremony to mark the handover of the chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China from Egypt to Palestine. The ceremony will he held on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Egypt's foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said that Shoukry will deliver the opening speech at the ceremony. Cairo's 2018 chairmanship of the G 77 and China, Egypt's third time chairing the group, is part of the country's leading role in the service of developing countries and its belief in the principles and goals of the group, Hafez said. The G 77 and China is the main negotiating bloc in the UN for developing countries that works on boosting the economic and development interests of its members, he added. Egypt has, through its chairmanship of the group last year, and with the help of all members, defended the interests of developing states according to their priorities and needs in the various economic, social and environmental fields, he said. It has also sought to promote a better represented international system during a time of UN reform, he said. Shoukry will meet during his stay in New York with several top UN officials, he added. The G77, founded in 1964, is a large coalition of 134 developing countries at the UN, designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the UN. There were 77 founding members of the organisation, but by November 2013 the organisation had expanded to 134 member countries (including China). Since China participates in the G77 but does not consider itself as a member, all official statements are issued in the name of The Group of 77 and China.
