Political Declaration

Political Declaration 08/07/2009

July 8, 2009 L’Aquila, Italy We, the Leaders of the Group of Five (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) having met in L’Aquila, Italy on 8th July, 2009 have decided to issue the following Political Declaration: 1. We express our solidarity with the victims and their families that were affected last April by the earthquake in L’Aquila. 2. The global economic crisis in its multiple dimensions, including social, employment and food and energy security risks, non traditional threats to security such as diseases and epidemics, as well as the challenges posed by climate change, underscore our fundamental interdependence and the imperative of enhancing cooperation to achieve equitable and sustainable development for all. 3. The world needs a new global governance, the construction of which must be based on inclusive multilateralism. In our evolving multi-polar world, the G5, as a positive platform that contributes to the promotion of the interests of developing countries, will continue to actively engage in jointly tackling global challenges. 4. The recent outbreak of influenza A(H1N1), along with its rapid spread to various countries all around the world, has further underscored the growing interconnection among people and countries. We will continue monitoring the development of this epidemic and facing it on the basis of constructive dialogue and cooperation. 5. Collectively, at the G-20 Summit held in London last April, we stressed the need of addressing the global and financial crisis in an integrated manner, carefully considering its social and developmental impacts, as well as the long term requirements of stability and sustainability. It is our conviction that efforts to address food security, energy security and other issues of common concern to developing countries, should not be reduced because of the financial crisis. On the contrary, we must grab the crisis as an opportunity to reform the international economic system for the benefit of all, particularly the most vulnerable. As a first step, we call for the full implementation of the G-20 London Summit Declaration without any delay. 6. At the global level, we must swiftly strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination and adopt strong economic stimulus measures to restore market confidence, stabilize financial markets and promote world economic growth. Developed countries have a leading responsibility in this regard. 7. The G5 will continue to promote the reform of the international financial system in a comprehensive, balanced and result-oriented way, with the purpose of establishing a new international financial order which is fair, just, inclusive and well-managed. In particular, we pledge to devote appropriate efforts to fundamentally resolving the issue of underrepresentation and inadequate voice of developing countries in international financial institutions, which is urgently needed. Towards this end, the G5 will collaborate with other world leaders. In this light, we welcome the outcome document adopted by the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development. 8. The promotion of equitable and sustainable development for all must be at the core of

global efforts. We urge international financial institutions to use their recently augmented resources to mainly help those developing countries which have been seriously affected by the crisis. We also call on all countries to consider the impact of their macroeconomic policies on developing countries and avoid aggravating the difficulties of developing countries due to the negative spillover effect of their policies. 9. Trade is a fundamental engine for growth and inclusive economic development. Thus, all members of the international community, must resist trade protectionism and refrain from raising new barriers to investment or trade in goods and services, or implementing inconsistent measures with World Trade Organisation (WTO). We all must strengthen cooperation and coordination in trade finance in support of developing countries to reduce the gravest impacts of the financial crisis. The G5 is fully committed to working for an ambitious and balanced outcome at the WTO Doha Development Round negotiations at the earliest date. The needs and interests of developing countries have to be placed at the heart of the Doha negotiations. 10. We reaffirm our commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals and to contributing to poverty eradication and the promotion of social development and justice at a global scale. In this regard, considering the threatening social impact of the global financial and economic crisis, we urge developed countries to speedily meet the already committed target of 0.7% of their gross national income for official development assistance to developing countries. Also, we emphasise the importance of fully implementing the outcomes of major World Summits, especially the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the Monterrey Consensus and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. This is also a necessary condition for global recovery. 11. We stress the need for developing countries to strengthen coordination and collaboration on outstanding global issues and call on all Governments, international organizations and relevant parties to vigorously support South-South and trilateral cooperation, making full use of the existing mechanisms to deepen cooperation in all fields. An expanded SouthSouth cooperation can be supplementary but is not a substitute for North-South cooperation. 12. Global warming poses a defining challenge for the present and future generations. Adaptation to climate change is of crucial importance and should be given equal emphasis as mitigation. We urge developed countries to assist the developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation. We also urge developed countries to commit themselves to ambitious and comparable quantified emission reduction targets by reducing their emissions in aggregate by at least 40% below their 1990 levels by 2020, in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Reaffirming the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and underlining the fundamental role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, we urge developed countries to provide measurable, reportable and verifiable technology, financing and capacity building to support and enable developing countries to take nationally appropriate mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development. In particular, we express our interests in further considering proposals for the establishment of international funding arrangements, including the proposal of Mexico for a Green Fund, and the setting of a climate financing goal for all developed countries to contribute a certain percentage of their annual GDP in addition to ODA, among others aimed at ensuring adequate, predictable and sustained funding to support nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries. Given the fundamental role of technology in addressing climate change, we call for the establishment of an international mechanism for the development, deployment and transfer of climate-friendly technologies.

We are fully committed to working for an ambitious outcome at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, to ensure the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol. 13. Peace and development are mutually reinforcing. The G5 will continue to support efforts that promote global security based on international law, and through constructive dialogue and diplomacy, seek to strengthen the international legal framework. We remain committed to supporting the role of the United Nations in global governance and further undertake to intensify international cooperation, especially in the multilateral arena. We will continue to strive for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations that includes strengthening the General Assembly, revitalizing ECOSOC, reforming the Secretariat, strengthening the UN gender architecture and, in particular, achieving an early reform of the UN Security Council, that properly reflects the current economic and political realities. 14. We unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The global scourge of terrorism need strongest collective action by the international community to prevent terrorist acts and punish perpetrators, financiers and others involved in such acts. In order to provide a comprehensive international legal framework against terrorism, the UN member states should conclude and adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism as early as possible. 15. We reiterate our commitment to ensure a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and welcome the strengthening of multilateral dialogue on disarmament issues. In particular, we support the implementation of the World Program of the Conference on Disarmament for its 2009 sessions and expect a substantive outcome of these meetings. 16. We are determined to continue engaging in all multilateral efforts leading to achieve the improved global economic governance and other major changes required to ensure that globalization and interdependence work for the benefit of all. Our strategic objective is to continue promoting an action-oriented global partnership for truly equitable and sustainable development worldwide. Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi

Joint Statements