In his address, the Foreign Minister focused on global challenges, particularly the funding gap for achieving sustainable development. He underscored the effective role of the BRICS group in tackling these challenges by strengthening the rules-based multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. He called for a more just and equitable global economy.
Dr. Abdelatty stressed the need to redouble efforts to
accelerate cooperation on joint projects across various sectors, including
energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, emerging technologies, and innovation,
especially Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He also highlighted the importance of promoting local
currency settlements in financial transactions, in line with the BRICS
cross-border payments initiative, and increasing the provision of financing by
the New Development Bank (NDB) in local currencies.
Furthermore, he called for intensified coordination to reform
the global financial and debt architecture to meet the needs and priorities of
developing countries, ensuring they have access to concessional financing to
realize their development plans.
He emphasized the necessity of uniting efforts to secure stronger
representation for developing countries in international economic
decision-making. He also called for formulating an international mechanism to
support local capacity in handling debt burdens and continuing to advocate for
providing the necessary means of implementation for developing nations to
achieve their goals.
On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Dr. Abdelatty touched upon
the ongoing Israeli war against the Palestinian people, which has led to an unprecedented
humanitarian catastrophe. He noted that Israel must bear full responsibility
for the tragedy in Gaza, reaffirming Egypt's rejection of plans to forcibly
displace or transfer Palestinian residents of Gaza away from their homeland.
In this context, the Minister welcomed the recent UN General Assembly resolution on implementing the two-state solution. He stated that the resolution demonstrates the widespread support for the Palestinian people's legitimate right to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967, lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.