The Group of 77 was established on the 15th of June 1964 during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), held in Geneva. This conference marked the inception of a coalition of 75 developing countries pledging to promote equality in the international economic and social order and foster the interests of the developing nations. This was largely seen as an "initial step towards the international endorsement of a new trade policy for development".
In a joint declaration made at the UNCTAD, members declared their unity under a common interest and defined their group as "an instrument for enlarging the area of cooperative endeavor in the international field and for securing mutually beneficent relationships with the rest of the world."
While the initial mandate of the group was to address the trade and development-related issues of its members, the focus of the group has since evolved. Today, it is a successful lobby group within the United Nations structure and multilateral processes.
The Rome Chapter of the Group of 77 and China is hosted by FAO. The group is committed to addressing the issues within the mandate of FAO and the Rome-Based Agencies, such as food security, nutrition, and agricultural development.
The list of current G77& China members - accredited to FAO, with a Permanent Representation in Rome - and the historical list of chairpersons, since 1974, can be consulted below.
- List of G77 & China Members (with representation in Rome) (as of September 2022)
- Historical list of G77 & China Chairpersons (as of March 2023)