Developing countries ask for voices to be heard ahead of UN Sustainable Development Summit

A day before world leaders meet to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals, the chair of the Group of 77 and China called for international negotiations to listen to the voices of developing countries.

"We must secure the restructuring of international political and economic systems in order to rectify the inherent asymmetries of power," said Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, chair of the Group of 77 and China.

"This would safeguard developing countries which make up the majority of countries across the globe, having their voice heard in global governance," said Nkoana-Mashabane, who is South African minister of international relations.

She said that the Group of 77 and China have been active in negotiations of the UN's sustainable development and climate agendas, and will continue to negotiate on behalf of the world's marginalized people.

Nkoana-Mashabane welcomed aspects of the Post-2015 Development agenda -- which will be adopted by world leaders here Friday -- which recognized the different responsibilities rich and poor countries have in tackling problems, such as climate change and global inequality.

"Of major importance of the outcome document is the inclusion of the common but differentiated responsibilities which recognizes our different national realities, capabilities and levels of development," she said.

But Nkoana-Mashabane also expressed concern that there remained a funding gap to pay for the post-2015 development agenda which includes 17 new Sustainable Development Goals in areas including poverty eradication, climate change and gender.

"It is disappointing that there is little way in which new funds (have been identified) to fill the existing developing financing gap," she said.

The president of the UN General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, also addressed the meeting.

"It is a privilege to address the Group of 77 and China at this important meeting representing more than two thirds of the total membership of the UN and an even larger share of the total population," said Lykketoft.

Lykketoft said that there needs to be more international cooperation in order to address the funding gap for post-2015 development.

"We need rich countries to live up to their longstanding commitment to minimum 0.7 percent of gross national income in Official Development Assistance," he said, referring to the official term for aid from the developed.

"But even more we need international cooperation and national institution building to ensure that rich companies and rich individuals pay taxes where they earn their money," he said.

"In particular we need to create a stable regulatory framework for business that makes it obvious that the green investment is the best investment not only in the long perspective for mankind and for the common good but also for private investors here and now."

Also speaking at the event, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the new post-2015 development agenda applied to both developed and developing countries.

"Developed countries are committing to act not only through their development cooperation, but also through domestic plans and policies," he said.

He said that the ambitious new agenda will leave no one behind while also protecting planet earth.

"It is an agenda that is people-centered and planet-friendly, an agenda that pledges to leave no one behind and nurture our only home, the planet earth," Ban added. Endit