Khalid Al Ghaith, Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has participated in the 38th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 and China, as part of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Al Ghaith spoke at the meeting on behalf of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, stressing the important role the group plays in defending their countries interests. He also reiterated the U.A.E.’s support for the group’s goals and priorities.

He affirmed the need to adhere to the implementation of all agreements related to finance for development, reforming the international global system, and providing all the means of implementation to transfer environment friendly technology for developing countries.

He viewed the efforts and endeavours of the U.A.E. in tackling the various causes of poverty in different regions in the world, including conflict and foreign occupation, and the deterioration of the economic performance in the fields of health and education, which he pointed out are reasons behind extremism, violence and instability.

He noted that comprehensive and sustainable development cannot be achieved without the empowerment and involvement of women. He stressed the importance of strengthening the efforts of the United Nations in the fields of gender equality, expressing the U.A.E.’s pride in hosting the Coordination Office of the UN Authority supported by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Al Gaith also viewed the measures taken by the U.A.E. to face the challenges of climate change, including investing in renewable energy sources, protection of biodiversity and environment stability, highlighting the building of Masdar City as an example of an eco-friendly city and the initiative of Shams1 as the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world.