G5 Foreign Ministers Meeting

Press Release

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Mexico - the Group of Five (G5) - met on the margins of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The purpose of this gathering was to follow up on the discussions undertaken by G5 Leaders during their meeting that took place in Sapporo last July, previous to their participation at the G8 Summit in Hokkaido Toyako, Japan.

The five Ministers exchanged views on the current international outlook, pointing out the grave challenges posed by global financial instability, climate change, the steep rise of food and oil prices, and turmoil in different parts of the world. They agreed that the G5 should play a constructive role in this complex scenario, contributing to a stronger participation of the developing countries in an improved global governance.

To this end, the Ministers decided to pursue a closer dialogue and deeper collaboration on the most pressing global problems. In the forth coming months, seminars and workshops among high level experts of the five countries will be organised to discuss issues on food crisis, climate change and financial instability and to enhance technical cooperation, with the purpose of learning from each other through the exchange of information, best practices, and to identify specific South-South cooperation projects to take advantage of their respective national capacities and national policies.

The Foreign Ministers also agreed that their national delegations that participate in forthcoming international meetings on climate change, trade and financial issues will hold regular consultations.  

A technological platform to open a communication channel among the G5 members and to provide information to global public opinion will be created.

The Foreign Ministers recognised the important work that has been done by Mexico as the group coordinator and decided to extend its mandate.

Additionally, G5 Foreign Ministers coincided in the importance of ensuring a more substantive dialogue with the G8, based on true partnership and fully supportive of multilateralism as the most effective way to find global solutions. 

The Foreign Ministers of the G5 have met yearly on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly since 2006.