Second Committee, 9th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good morning, colleagues. The ninth meeting of the Second Committee is called to order. I invite the Committee to jointly consider agenda items 14, Information and Communications Technologies for Sustainable Development, and item 19, Globalization and Interdependence, and its sub-items A and B. The documentation under this item is listed in today's journal and on eGov, and we'll now proceed with introduction of the reports. I would like to remind the introducers of report that the announced time limit for one introduction is four minutes. I first invite Mr. Angel Gonzalez-Sanz, Officer in Charge of the Division on Technology and Logistics at United Nations Trade and Development. to introduce via video link under item 14, the report of the Secretary General on progress made in the implementation of the follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on Information Society at the regional and international levels as contained in document A/81/62.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Distinguished delegates, it is my pleasure to introduce the Secretary-General's report on progress in implementing and following up on the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, WSIS. Prepared on the basis of contributions from 32 United Nations entities, international organizations, and other stakeholders, the report reviews implementation efforts in 2025, a year marked by geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological change, and the milestone WSIS+20 review. I would like to highlight two key issues. First, digital inclusion and meaningful connectivity. 20 years after WICIS, significant progress has been made in expanding internet access worldwide. Yet, progress remains uneven. More than 2 billion people remain offline, and connectivity levels in the least developed countries continue to lag far behind global averages. Moreover, access alone is no longer sufficient. Meaningful connectivity requires affordable services appropriate devices, digital skills, relevant content, and a safe online environment. Without these elements, many people who are technically connected cannot fully benefit from digital opportunities. Addressing these gaps must remain a global priority. Continued investment in infrastructure, capacity building, and digital inclusion is essential to ensure that digital transformation supports sustainable and equitable development for all. Second, artificial intelligence and its governance. The report highlights the extraordinary pace of technological innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence. Advances in generative AI are transforming economies and societies, creating new opportunities while also raising significant challenges. The rapid expansion of AI has intensified concerns related to accountability, safety, cybersecurity, human rights, environmental sustainability, and data governance. At the same time, AI develops Development remains concentrated in a limited number of countries and companies, while its impacts are global. Stronger international cooperation is needed to prevent new forms of inequality and exclusion. The report identifies several priorities, improving transparency and accountability, expanding equitable access to AI capabilities through shared infrastructure, supporting open innovation and open source approaches, and strengthening capacity building so that developing countries can benefit fully from frontier technologies. The report also underscores the importance of data governance. In this regard, the CSTB Working Group on Data Governance is preparing its progress report for submission to the 81st session of the General Assembly following the 30th annual session of the CSTB in April 2027. I would also like to highlight the updated WISIS resolution adopted by the ECOSOC this year. The resolution was substantially streamlined and is the first post-WISIS+20 implementation framework negotiated at the CSTB. It places greater emphasis on measurable results, accountability, reporting and monitoring, while strengthening alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the Global Digital Compact. The resolution introduces several implementation-oriented provisions. These include annual update briefings by WSS Action and facilitators, annual reporting by ANGUS on its joint implementation roadmap with detailed timelines, responsibilities, and measurable targets, and work by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development to develop enhanced ICT metrics that go beyond access and connectivity. Finally, with a view to aligning the Secretary-General's reporting cycle and the CSTV negotiation cycle with the framework established by the General Assembly following the WSS+20 review, Member States decided that the transition to biennial reporting will begin in 2028, unless otherwise agreed. At the same time, the CSTV will continue to conduct annual reviews of progress in implementing the WSS outcomes. Thank you very much for your attention.

I thank Mr. Gonzalez-Sanz for the presentation. I now would like to invite Ms. Rashmi Banga, Chief of the Development Research Branch in the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to introduce, under the chapeau of item 19, the report of the Secretary-General on Towards a New International Economic Order: Advancing the Implementation of International Agreements, as contained in document A/81/272. Ms. Banga, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates. I am pleased to present Secretary-General's report towards a new international economic order, advancing the implementation of international agreements. The report's central message is clear. Translating international commitments into national action requires more equitable international economic conditions. Member states have reached major agreements including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Pact for the Future, and the Saviya commitment. Yet limited access to affordable finance and technology, constrained policy space, and inadequate voice in global decision-making continue to hinder implementation in many developing countries. These constraints are compounded by high debt service burdens, trade fragmentation, and widening technological divides. National efforts remain essential, but international constraints also require international solutions. The report recognizes recent progress, including negotiations towards a United Nations framework, convention on international tax cooperation, and the first biennial summit

with international financial institutions.

However, changes in global economic governance have yet to match the scale of the challenge. Against this backdrop, the report identifies five priorities. First, improve financing conditions for developing countries. This includes following through the Saviya commitment, expanding access to affordable long-term finance, advancing faster and fairer debt solutions, and strengthening inclusive international tax cooperation. Second, strengthen trade and countries' capacity to benefit from trade. WTO reform should support predictability, transparency, and development outcomes. Developing countries also need practical support to meet standards, diversify exports, and participate in sustainable value chains. Third, close technology and digital divides. Stronger cooperation should support technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and skills. Developing countries must also participate in shaping the governance of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Fourth, strengthen coordination and inclusive governance. Meaningful participation requires both representation and the capacity to influence decisions. The biennial summit provides an opportunity to improve coordination between the United Nations and international financial institutions. Fifth, advanced measures that complement GDP, the work on beyond GDP and multidimensional vulnerability index can help policy and financing decisions better reflect vulnerability, resilience, sustainability and inclusion. Distinguished delegates, delivering on these priorities requires strong coherence and accountability across existing institutions and processes. United Nations follow-up should track delivery, identify gaps, and connect commitments with practical implementation support without adding reporting burdens. A more equitable international economic order requires sustained political will, adequate resources, and institutional reform. The United Nations remains the universal platform for advancing this agenda with developing countries' needs and priorities at its center. DESA stands ready to support your deliberations. Thank you.

I thank the Chief of Development Research Branch for her statement. Now I would like to invite Ms. Lotta Tattini, Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to introduce under item 19A the report by the Secretary-General on Sustainable Development and Globalization: Long-term Trends and Challenges, as contained in document A/81/94. Director, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished delegates. It's my honor to introduce the report of the Secretary-General entitled Sustainable Development and Globalization: Long-term Trends and Challenges. The report was prepared pursuant to GA resolution 79/216. It offers a focused analysis of trends in technological change and their impacts on globalization and labor markets. The report also presents action-oriented policy recommendations for advancing globalization through cooperation and shared benefits of technology, in line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Excellencies, digital technologies and AI are transforming globalization at unprecedented speed. Policy makers are seeking to harness their enormous potential for sustainable development while ensuring everyone can share the benefits and managing emerging systemic risks. But technological change also determines who can participate in globalization when digital infrastructure, connectivity and standards become barriers to entry. The report calls for an about-face towards a more inclusive and sustainable globalization of technological change. This requires greater international cooperation, stronger policy coordination, more targeted support and capacity building for developing countries, and effective governance at all levels. Ladies and gentlemen, Emerging technologies have always presented opportunities to expand access to new forms of work and productivity gains, as well as risks for job displacement, labor market polarization, and increased insecurity. However, AI is driving a broader automation of production, extending into non-routine work. The policy response must also broaden and better address not only job quantity and quality, but also decent work and wider social outcomes. The recommendations in this report aim to ensure that globalization advances sustainable development and delivers equitable benefits within and among countries. The overall assessment remains positive. While AI is more likely to transform jobs than replace them, lifelong learning, skills development and social protection will be essential for an inclusive transition. Member States should address the digital divide, particularly in developing countries, by expanding affordable access to digital infrastructure. They should adopt proactive policies that can strengthen the links between new technology and decent work. Enhanced international cooperation and support from international organizations can help countries build the capacity, institutions, and policy frameworks to harness new technologies for sustainable and inclusive development. I thank you.

I thank you, Madam Director, for presentation of the report. And now I would like to invite Ms. Claire Menozzi, Chief of the Migration and Development Section in the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to introduce under item 19B the report by the Secretary-General on international migration and development as contained in document A/81/282. Ms. Menozzi, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to provide a brief overview of the Secretary-General's report on international migration and development. The present report, prepared pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/217, examines approaches to strengthen the contribution of international migration to sustainable development while addressing the adverse drivers and structural factors that influence migration decisions. Drawing on evidence since 2024, the report highlights the importance of diversifying, enhancing and expanding regular migration pathways promoting fair recruitment and decent work, strengthening social protection and access to essential services, improving migration governance and international cooperation, and enhancing migration data and statistics to support evidence-based policymaking and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Realizing the developmental potential of migration requires more coherent policies that strengthen migration governance, uphold and protect human rights, and promote international cooperation. Let me now focus on four of the report's main findings and recommendations. First, many migrants continue to face barriers to decent work, financial inclusion, social protection, and access to essential services, increasing the risk of multidimensional poverty and social exclusion. Remittances are a critical source of income for millions of households and often provide an important buffer against economic, environmental, and other shocks. However, progress in reducing remittance cost has stalled since 2024, while the global average cost of sending $200 remains around 6% of the amount transferred, well above the SDG target of less than 3%. Reducing these costs by promoting competitive and interoperable payment systems and expanding financial and digital inclusion is essential. Second, demographic and economic trends underscore the importance of coherent labor, education, and migration policies that improve the matching of workers and labor demand while promoting and protecting human rights. Strengthening cooperation between countries of origin and destination on skills development and recognition, the portability of social protection entitlements, as well as on fair and ethical recruitment consistent with international labor standards can further improve labor market integration. Third, migrant deaths and disappearances along international migration routes remain a persistent protection challenge with at least 7,927 deaths and disappearances recorded in 2025, reflecting hazardous travel conditions, limited availability of safe and regular migration pathways, and insufficient search and rescue coordination. Reducing these risks requires comprehensive approaches that strengthen early warning systems, improve information and data sharing, and enhance cooperation among countries. Access to legal identity, including through effective civil registration and documentation systems, is also fundamental to protecting migrants' rights and enabling access to services throughout the migration cycle. Fourth, effective migration governance requires coherent policies that bridge migration, labor, development, climate, social protection, and financing agendas. In this context, the 2026 progress declaration of the International Migration Review Forum reaffirmed the importance of policy coherence, international cooperation, and whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. Strengthening the availability, quality, and comparability of migration data, expanding disaggregation by migratory status, sex, age, and other relevant characteristics, strengthening data and indicators to support monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, and fostering balanced, evidence-based public discourse on migration are also important. In closing, it is hoped that the report, and in particular its conclusions and recommendations, will be useful in the deliberations of this Committee on International Migration and Development. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Menozzi, for presentation of the report. Distinguished delegates, as per established practice, after hearing the presentations, I invite you to take the floor, those who wish, press the microphone for any comment or question. you may have in relation with the reports we have just been presented. If this is not the case, so everything has been clear, I thank the presenters and the briefers for their presence with the committee and leave them a few moments that we can arrange the podium and continue with the general discussion.

Estimados colegas, invito ahora a la Comisión a comenzar.

Distinguished colleagues, I now invite the Committee to begin the joint general discussion of agenda item 14 and item 19 and its sub-items. Before we proceed, I would like to remind declarations that the agreed time limits for statements during the joint consideration of agenda items are five minutes for delegations speaking on behalf of a group of states, and three minutes for national statements. The list of speakers has been prepared on that basis, and I intend to implement the time limits strictly, including, as necessary, through automatic microphone cut-off after the allotted time has elapsed. To assist speakers in time management, a countdown clock will be projected on the screens in the meeting room. Delegations are requested to submit longer versions of their statements by e-mail to e-statements. I thank speakers in advance for their cooperation. With these comments, I now call on the first speaker on my list, the distinguished representative of Uruguay, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Thank you, Chair. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms that science, technology, and innovation are vital drivers for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. STI must be an integral part of developing countries' national development strategies. Countries that nurture skilled talent and strengthen scientific ecosystems are better positioned to bridge divides, anticipate risks, and respond effectively to emerging challenges. The group underscores the importance of international cooperation, including in medical research, to strengthen preparedness for future pandemics. We further call for greater access to innovation, technology transfer, capacity building support, and sustained financing to enhance institutional STI capacities and close the technological gap within and among countries. The group also emphasizes that culture is central to sustainable development, as it embodies identity, belonging, and shared values that underpin the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The group calls for the mainstreaming of culture in all development plans and policies in line with the Sevilla commitment. The Group commends the work of UNESCO, UNCTAD and UN-HABITAT in integrating culture and the creative economy into development cooperation and finance. Chair, the Group also emphasizes the need for measures of progress beyond GDP to capture the multidimensional nature of development. Furthermore, The Group reiterates the urgency of reforming the international financial architecture, including multilateral development banks, to improve access to concessional finance, strengthen debt sustainability, and mobilize resources for investment and growth. The Group notes with concern that many continue to face structural barriers that limit their progress and keep them trapped in the middle-income bracket. We call for tailored and coordinated international support to ensure inclusive and just transitions. The group supports the elaboration of a strategic mixed agenda within the UN system, including a comprehensive interagency response plan that reflects the specific needs and diversity of these countries where poverty and inequality still persist. Chair, 52 years after the adoption of the declaration and the program of action on the establishment of a new international economic order, the principles of equity, sovereign equality, cooperation, and solidarity remain full relevant. Globalization today must not mean greater inequality for the global south. We call for more representative and development-oriented economic governance in which no country is penalized for the poverty inherited from its colonial past or for its vulnerability to climate change it didn't cause, among other issues. Moreover, today's world suffers the devastating effects of geopolitical conflicts, unilateral coercive measures, trade fragmentation, and the high costs of inadequate financing, inadequate financing, which only increased the debt burdens of developing countries. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its commitment to solidarity, multilateralism and sustainable development. I thank you.

Muchas gracias.

I thank the delegation of Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. And I give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Singapore on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN. ASEAN aligns itself with the statement just delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Digital transformation is reshaping globalisation and deepening interdependence of our economies and societies. Technologies, data, services and ideas increasingly flow across borders, creating new opportunities for sustainable development, while bringing challenges that no country can address alone. ASEAN is committed to building an integrated, secure, trusted, innovative, and inclusive digital community that empowers our citizens and businesses to access opportunities, build innovation capabilities, and thrive in the global digital economy. Allow me to highlight five priorities for ASEAN. One, access for all. Connectivity remains the foundation of ASEAN's digital development. We are committed to expanding secure, inclusive and affordable access for all, and promoting inclusive digital participation. We must ensure that our people can participate meaningfully and safely in the digital society. Two, skills for the future. ASEAN is also strengthening digital literacy, promoting lifelong learning, and strengthening a future-ready digital workforce and digital talent. This will empower our citizens and businesses to participate effectively in the digital economy. Three, an ecosystem that is trusted and secure. ASEAN is strengthening cybersecurity resilience and enhancing cooperation. We are also pleased to have concluded negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement to advance the vision of a digitally integrated, secure, interoperable, competitive, and inclusive regional economy. This builds on ASEAN's longstanding journey of economic integration through the ASEAN Free Trade Area, which laid the foundation for a single market and production base. Four, artificial intelligence that benefits our people. ASEAN is deepening cooperation on AI to further advance our capacity to address emerging opportunities and risks. The ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap provides actionable steps for responsible AI to flourish in our region. ASEAN is advancing this work through the ASEAN Working Group on AI Governance and other relevant regional mechanisms. Next year, under Singapore's chairmanship of ASEAN, we aim to harness AI as a driver of inclusive growth and social progress, building on the efforts of successive ASEAN Chairs including the Philippines initiative this year to empower micro, small and medium enterprises to adopt AI. ASEAN is currently advancing the establishment of the ASEAN AI Safety Network to strengthen institutional capacity to coordinate AI safety efforts while unlocking AI's potential and mitigating associated risks. Five, no one left behind. This principle guides our digital transformation. We are also enhancing green digital transformation and regional energy connectivity, including through advancing the ASEAN power grid to power our expanding digital economy sustainably and strengthen regional resilience. ASEAN seeks to ensure that no individual, enterprise or community is left behind. Mr. Chair, together, the points I shared today spell out A-S-E-A-N, ASEAN. They reflect our group's ambition for deeper regional integration, connecti- connecting our economies through trade, our societies through digital technologies, and our energy systems through greater regional connectivity. No country can navigate these transformations alone. ASEAN will continue working with the UN and all partners to bridge divides and strengthen capabilities. Together, we can ensure that digital transformation, globalization, and interdependence remain forces for inclusive development, innovation, and long-term sustainability. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore on behalf of ASEAN. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada on behalf of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia, New Zealand, and my own country, Canada. CANS recognizes the transformative potential of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet significant digital and AI divides persist, both between and within countries, including gaps in connectivity, skills, data and compute, and institutional capacity. CANS welcomes the continued recognition of these challenges. At the same time, we must ensure that digital transformation is inclusive, grounded in human rights, and responsive to both the opportunities and the risks these technologies present. Bridging these divides also requires careful consideration of how we pursue this objective. International cooperation on digital and AI issues must be effective, efficient and coordinated. CAN supports efforts to strengthen cohesion across the UN system, including through the implementation of the WSIS outcomes and the Global Digital Compact. We also call for the preservation of open, inclusive, and multi-stakeholder approaches that have been central to progress in global digital cooperation. On the aspect of efficiencies, CANS reiterates the importance of implementing the commitments of Resolution 80/251 and advancing second committee revitalization. This means streamlining texts, exercising greater discipline in mandate creation, promoting clarity and brevity, avoiding duplication. These efforts are not merely procedural. They are necessary to ensure that the Committee can focus its attention and resources on where they are most effective. Turning to the proposed resolution concerning the global dialogue and the independent scientific panel on AI, CANS believes that consideration of these bodies extends beyond the mandate of the second committee for three reasons. First, both bodies were established to address issues relating not only to development, but also to human rights, governance, and stakeholder engagement. any reassessment of their role or function belongs within the Global Digital Compact high-level review scheduled for next year. Second, pursuing specific outcomes outside that agreed process risks prejudging discussions that Member States adopted by consensus. All countries have invested in the success of the global dialogue and the independent scientific panel and have a shared interest in preserving the integrity of the process established under the global digital compact. Third, this resolution risks reopening foundational questions that were already addressed during the global digital compact negotiations. Attempts to redirect the work of these bodies from outside the agreed framework also undermine the modalities resolutions the member states themselves adopted by consensus. For these reasons, CANS calls on all member states to support the global dialogue and the independent scientific panel by allowing them to carry out their mandates without interference. In conclusion, CANS reiterates its recognition of the transformative potential of AI for sustainable development. At the same time, the mandates of the independent scientific panel and the global dialogue extend beyond development alone, as recognized by member states during the negotiation of the Global Digital Compact. It is therefore our view that this resolution should be removed from the Second Committee agenda. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Canada on behalf of Cannes. And I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Jamaica on behalf of the Caribbean Community. You have the floor, Ambassador.

Thank you very much, Chair. I do have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean Community. The full version of the statement will be uploaded. We align ourselves with the statement of G77 and China, and we thank the Secretary-General for the reports provided to guide our discussions on these agenda items. Chair, CARICOM continues to face structural challenges to economic diversification, reflecting the concentration of our economies in a limited range of sectors and our heightened exposure to external shocks. Climate-related disasters, global market volatility, and constrained access to affordable financing can disproportionately impact our development gains. In this context, information and communication technologies are not simply tools for modernization, but essential enablers of economic diversification and competitiveness. CARICOM Member States have made significant strides in advancing national digital strategies and expanding digital infrastructure. Nevertheless, significant gaps persist, both within our countries and between our region and more developed economies. These disparities extend beyond connectivity to encompass the affordability, reliability, and quality of digital access, as well as gaps in digital skills, institutional capacity, and the ability to translate technological advances into sustainable economic and social gains. Closing these divides will require a sustained investment. strong regional cooperation, and meaningful international partnerships that enable CARICOM to harness digital transformation as a driver of inclusive and resilient development. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are also reshaping economies and societies. Small island developing states must not be confined to the role of passive consumers of technologies, standards, data, and systems developed elsewhere. Inclusive digital transformation requires access to technology, skills, meaningful technology transfer, and infrastructure. It also means respect for our sovereignty and the ability to govern our own data and to help shape the international rules that govern emerging technologies. Small states must have a seat at the table, including in the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. We are taking action, however, significant challenges remain. International support is therefore necessary to enable our countries to build resilient digital economies. Genuine partnerships must strengthen access to affordable and resilient digital infrastructure, advance capacity building and technology transfer, promote responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence, strengthen data governance and cybersecurity, and enable innovation across our societies and economies. In keeping with the Abbas, the Global Digital Compact and the Seville Commitment, we call for greater international cooperation and coherent support for the digital priorities and regional initiatives of CIDS, including through predictable financing, strengthened institutional capacity, and more inclusive global digital governance. While we recognize the promises of globalization, we are also cognizant of the vulnerabilities. Our experience has taught us that the challenges we face do not respect institutional boundaries. Fragmented responses often compromise our ability to effectively advance the SDGs. We must therefore improve the coherence between financial, technological and development systems. The United Nations must play a central role in ensuring that interdependence can be a source of shared opportunity, rather than a multiplier of vulnerability and inequality. For CARICOM, the UN development system is a vital partner in helping our countries translate international commitments into national action, consistent with national priorities, policies and circumstances. We envision a digitally empowered Caribbean, where all citizens have the skills and opportunities to thrive in the global digital economy. CARICOM is committed to working constructively with all member states and stakeholders to shape a world that leaves no one and no country behind in this new age. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished.

Permanent representative of Jamaica on behalf of the Caribbean community. And I now give the floor to the permanent secretary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Residence Abroad of Gambia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Least Developed Countries Group. Information and communication technologies are critical to helping LDCs overcome multidimensional vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience, and accelerate progress towards the.

Sustainable Development Goals.

Five years into the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action, LDCs have made progress in expanding digital connectivity. strengthening digital public services, and developing national digital strategies and institutional frameworks. Yet, progress remains uneven, with significant gaps in infrastructure, affordability, digital skills, research capacities, and access to emerging technologies. In 2025, only 33.7% of people in LDCs use the internet, compared with 73.6% globally. investment in research and development stood at just 0.28% of GDP. At the same time, more than 60% of the LDCs population is under the age of 25, while tertiary enrollment remains at only around 11% compared with more than 40% globally. For LDCs, the challenge of the ICTs development goes beyond connectivity. It is about building the domestic capacity to generate, adapt, absorb, and commercialize technology. It is about investment in sustainable infrastructure, STEM education, digital skills, research and innovation. Meanwhile, emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, create major opportunities, but also pose new risks without targeted action. LDCs risk being further marginalized in the rapidly evolving digital and AI economy. The group reiterates the need to scale up the artificial intelligence capacity building for sustainable development, leveraging existing United Nations and multi-stakeholder mechanisms to bridge AI divides, facilitate access to AI applications, and build high-performance computing capacity and related skills in LDCs. Accordingly, the group calls for acceleration action in five areas. First, invest in the foundation of the ICTs development to promote digital transformation in LDCs. Sustainable infrastructure, reliable electricity, affordable broadband, access to devices are essential for meaningful participation of LDCs in the digital economy, particularly in rural and on reserve communities. Second, invest in human capital and institutional capacity. ICT development in LDCs relies on supportive policy frameworks and skills human capital. The Doha Programme of Action places science, technology and innovation, human capital development and structural transformation at the centre of sustainable development in LDCs. We call for early operationalisation of the Online University for the Least Developed Countries, a key DPOA delivery aimed at expanding access to high-quality STEM education and digital skills. Third, enable LDCs to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. LDCs should be supported not only as users, but as researchers, innovators, and creators with access to skills, computing capacity, research, networks, relevant data, and appropriate safeguards. Fourth, make technology transfer practical and directly linked to productive transformation.

LDCs need the capacity to absorb.

Adapt and scale technologies in ways that raise productivity, diversify economies, strengthen enterprises and create decent jobs. Fifth, strengthen international cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation and development financing. Governments, development partners, the United Nations systems, academia, and the private sector must work together to strengthen infrastructure, innovation systems, technology transfer, and domestic capacities. We reiterate our strong support for the United Nations Technology Bank for the least developed countries. Mr. Chair, ICT development in LDCs requires an enabling ecosystem supported by enhanced global partnership and targeted support. The least developed group stands ready to work with all partners to ensure that ICTs and emerging technologies become catalysts for inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in LDCs. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Gambia on behalf of the least developed countries. And I give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Ireland on behalf of the European Union.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. We have consistently promoted inclusive discussions at the UN to address both the opportunities and risks of AI, with a view to fostering shared knowledge, common understanding, and the exchange of experiences, while ensuring that all stakeholders can benefit equally. Moreover, we would like to reaffirm our support for the Global Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 outcome, which will serve as our compass in advancing inclusive and effective digital cooperation. In this context, the European Union and its Member States expresses its serious concern regarding the compatibility of the draft resolution entitled "Supporting the functioning of the independent international scientific panel on AI and the global dialogue on AI governance" on the principles of coherence and avoidance of duplication, particularly in light of the recently adopted standards for mandate creation under the UN AI initiative and contained in General Assembly resolution 80/251. Contrary to commitments to enhance visibility and transparency to ensure coherence and avoid unnecessary duplication, the draft resolution appears to significantly overlap with existing structures and processes. Furthermore, it risks prejudging ongoing discussions and providing political guidance before Member States have had the opportunity to collectively consider these issues. Notably, the Global Digital Compact, which provides the comprehensive framework for international cooperation on digital technologies, including AI, which will be reviewed during the 82nd session. Resolution 79/325, which very clearly outlines the functioning of both the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Additionally, the membership will soon consider the terms of reference and modalities resolution for the GDC high-level review. The concept note shared after the draft resolution does little to allay the concerns that the text as proposed is redundant, will create confusion and will hamper important work on AI. There is no objective within this draft resolution that is not covered by the ongoing work of the panel and the dialogue. Chair, the EU has always promoted the importance of discussions on AI governance at the UN. These discussions should help us manage the risks and benefits of AI holistically as per resolution 79/325. Fragmentation and duplication as proposed by this draft resolution would detract and distract from this objective. Creating a new parallel process without demonstrating clear added value and without following the mandated procedural steps risks fragmenting our efforts, wasting resources, and undermining the coherence of the UN system overall. The European Union believes that discipline in mandate creation is essential for the credibility and effectiveness of the UN. The EU and its Member States will not be in a position to support provisions that clearly overlap and duplicate the already agreed frameworks, prejudge ongoing processes and run completely counter to the UN AD and GA commitments. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland on behalf of the European Union. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, on behalf of the like-minded group of countries.

Cuba has the honor to take the floor on behalf of Belarus, Burundi, China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Lao, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Russia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and my own country, Cuba. The full version of this statement will be submitted for publication. ICT has become indispensable to sustainable development, yet with only four years remaining until 2030, profound digital divide persists. AI has made this challenge even more urgent, offering many opportunities that remaining highly concentrated and risk widening existing inequalities and creating new forms of technological dependency. We therefore stress that global AI governance must be inclusive and firmly grounded in international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Building on the outcomes of the WSIS+20 review, the Global Digital Compact, including the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI, developing countries must have a meaningful voice in shaping our digital future. We also recognize the potential of digital public goods to avoid monopolistic practices or discriminatory restrictions. We further welcome the United Nations Conventions against Cybercrime and call for a strengthened international cooperation against the criminal misuse of ICTs, respecting international law and state sovereignty. Chair. Digital transformation cannot be separated from the broader inequalities affecting the international economy. High debt burdens, financing constraints, and insufficient development financing limited the capacity of developing countries to invest in connectivity, education, research, and innovation. We reiterate the need to reform the international financial architecture, increase the voice and representation of developing countries, mobilize adequate financing for sustainable development, fulfill ODA commitments. We likewise call for a fair, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and rules-based multilateral trading system. The growing fragmentation of trade and technology through protectionist, unilateral restrictions, and coercive practices has particularly harmful consequences for developing countries. shared. In this context, UCMs constitute a significant obstacle to sustainable development and digital inclusion. Their effects increasingly extend into the digital sphere, obstructing payments, access to software and digital platforms, acquisition and maintenance of equipment, and scientific and technological exchanges. Several countries, including Belarus, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and Cuba continue to experience the adverse effects of UCMs, including obstacles to accessing technologies and participating fully in the digital economy. In the case of Cuba, the US blockade has been recently strengthened by an energy siege to deny fuel to my country, affecting electricity generation, ICT infrastructures, telecommunications, and digital connectivity. We renew our longstanding demand for the complete, immediate, and unconditional lifting of all UCMs. 20 years after the Tunis Agenda, we recall the appeal to assist countries affected by UCMs. On the other hand, the WSIS+20 process has reaffirmed the importance of a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society to translate commitments into concrete actions. We will continue to advocate for equitable access to technology and financing, digital sovereignty and meaningful participation of developing countries in global digital governance. In this respect, we express our support to the draft resolution supporting the functioning of the independent international scientific panel on artificial intelligence and the global dialogue on artificial intelligence governance, submitted to the second committee by the Russian Federation, focused on these pivotal issues related to the sphere of development. We will also continue to promote a just, equitable, and inclusive international economic order and defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Technology should unite rather than divide our peoples and expand development opportunities rather than reinforce existing inequalities. Thank you so much.

I thank the representative of Cuba on behalf of a like-minded group. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ICTs are a key driver of global development, and work in this sphere should be underpinned by the principles of inclusion, equality, and the use of technologies for laudable purposes. UCMs undermine these principles, erecting barriers to the participation of various states in global, scientific, and technological cooperation. States erecting such barriers should, in fact, break them down, eliminate them. This year, we had some important events in the ICT sphere. In July, in Geneva, we had the first global dialogue on AI governance. In July, in Shanghai, in China, the World AI Cooperation Organization was founded, and Belarus was among the founders. These are important mechanisms which should facilitate the use of ICTs for development. Another important step in this sphere is the draft resolution put forward by the Russian Federation on global dialogue and the independent international panel on AI. Last year, we reviewed the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, which showed that a large digital gap between developed and developing countries remains. And yet, this gap is particularly palpable in the sphere of AI, where developing countries simply observers. We need to bridge this gap. Migration and development are interlinked in complex ways. Migration helps to reduce social tensions in some states, but at the same time, it facilitates the development of other countries. The main challenges in the context of migration are the following. We need to regulate and control migration processes. If we do this, migration will serve inclusive sustainable development. Unless we do this, migration will become a source of instability for many countries. In this sphere, what's important is the effective implementation of the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Migration is a global phenomenon which affects all countries to varying degrees. It is only by working together that we'll be able to craft effective solutions. Belarus has always been committed to such an approach. Having said that, over the last few years, Belarus has constantly heard strange allegations from its EU neighbors, allegations to the effect that we're supposedly promoting illegal migration into neighboring countries as part of the so-called hybrid war against these states. Belarus calls on its EU neighbors to cease the politicisation of migration. Politicisation, much like a policy of closing border crossings and building walls along Belarus' border, won't solve any problems. They can only be solved through cooperation. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Belarus. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

My name is Luisa Lopez. I'm the youth delegate of Mexico and part of the Mexico-U.S. community, which is estimated at 39 million people. We have sources of mutual understanding and exchange, and also we like to exchange between the economies of our places of origin and destination. Remittances are a source of income for millions of families, so they need to be affordable. And we need to have sources of investment and capacity building. It's essential to guarantee that people in mobility and diasporas can fully exercise our rights through legal and administrative systems that are affordable and inclusive. Migration is not a problem to be solved, but a phenomenon to be managed. Its contribution to development requires international cooperation that is inclusive with the participation of migrants, governments at all levels, civil society and the private sector. Mr. Chair, Mexico recognizes the potential of the digital transformation to accelerate sustainable development, but it warns that there are gaps in access, connectivity and technological capacities, particularly in developing countries. Lastly, given the advances in AI, it is essential to have equitable distribution of its benefits, strengthen national capacities, and promote inclusive governance with full respect for human rights. Mexico reaffirms its commitment to the Global Digital Compact and the mechanisms agreed upon for AI governance, the scientific panel, the international and independent one, and the Global Dialogue on AI in accordance with their various mandates that have been agreed upon. We think that our collective efforts must be based on the agreements that have already been reached, they must avoid duplication and they must guarantee that these mechanisms function effectively, inclusively, with the significant participation of all relevant interested parties. Mr. Chair, As part of a generation that lives very closely the realities of human mobility and technological reality, we aspire to a future in which that neither frontiers nor digital divides will limit our opportunities, a future in which progress will be at the service of people and will contribute to sustainable development. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Mexico, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Singapore on behalf of ASEAN. Chair, technological progress and human mobility are reshaping how people and nations connect. participate in globalization, and pursue sustainable development. In this context, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that these developments expand opportunities and deliver inclusive and tangible benefits for all. On the agenda items discussed today, Indonesia wishes to highlight the following points. On ICT for sustainable development, Indonesia believes that technology must serve as a bridge, not a divide. As a critical enabler of the 2030 agenda, technology can reduce inequalities and connect people to knowledge, services, and markets. Yet, disparities in digital access, infrastructure, skills, and technological capacities, as well as different national approaches to technology, risk deepening existing divides. Stronger international partnerships, including South-South and triangular cooperation, are therefore essential to bridge these gaps, strengthen national resilience, and ensure that developing countries fully benefit from digital transformation. On globalisation and interdependence, Indonesia encourages more inclusive global governance of emerging technologies. As technology increasingly connects economies and societies, international cooperation must keep pace with its rapid development. Thus, inclusive multilateral mechanisms, including the global dialogue on AI governance, are important to build shared understanding, reduce fragmentation, and foster development-oriented innovation for all. On international migration and development, Indonesia believes that human mobility must be safe and orderly, while expanding opportunities and strengthening livelihoods. We emphasize the importance of shared responsibility and stronger cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination to address emerging challenges, including the global growing trend of trafficking linked to online scam operation. We further underscore the need to promote safe and productive migration by advancing skills development and economic empowerment and

supporting their sustainable reintegration.

Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of Indonesia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia.

Thank you, Chair.

Malaysia

aligns itself with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and Singapore on behalf of

ASEAN.

Chair, digital technology is transforming how our economies grow and depend on one another, yet its benefits are not evenly shared. Bridging the digital divide calls for stronger knowledge sharing, collaboration, and investment. In this connection, Malaysia welcomes the VCS plus 20 outcome, which support closer alignment between the VCS process and the global digital compact. This alignment should be integrated, resource efficient, and free of duplication. For our part, broadband now reaches more than 99% of Malaysia's populated areas. This year, the ASEAN 5G Skills Framework, led by Malaysia, was named a winner at the RISIS prizes. We stand ready to share this experience with partners who may find it useful in advancing their digital capacity-building efforts. Chair,

Connectivity alone is not enough.

People must have the skills to benefit from it, and they must be safe online.

It is for this

reason that Malaysia's candidature for re-election to the ITU Council for the term 2027-2030 focuses on three priorities: connected, inclusive,

and safe.

In conclusion, Malaysia remains committed to working with all partners to ensure that globalization and interdependence are inclusive and sustainable, leaving no one behind in the digital age. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Malaysia. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines.

Thank you, Chair. The Philippines aligns itself with the statements of the G77 and China and of ASEAN and wishes to provide the following points in its national capacity on topics under agenda items 14 and 19. First, the Philippines recognizes the role of digital technologies as well as artificial intelligence in advancing sustainable development. In line with our national AI governance framework and our national AI strategy roadmap 2.0, the Philippines seeks to effectively leverage AI to build a modern and resilient economy, including by expanding secure connectivity and advanced computing infrastructure, upscaling our workers and educators, and investing in AI research development with emphasis on AI that delivers real benefits while remaining ethical and responsible. For the Philippines, our priorities are on enhancing digital literacy and upskilling, promoting interregional and international cooperation to bridge the digital divide, and ensuring that AI supports the vulnerable and preserves human dignity. Second, on migration and development, the Philippines values the contributions of migrants to our national development through their remittances, knowledge transfers, and diaspora investments. We also recognize the contributions they make to the economies and societies of host countries. The Philippines supports efforts to enhance the ability of migrants to further contribute to sustainable development of both countries of origin and countries of destination, including by lowering the costs of remittances, improving migrants' financial inclusion and financial health, enhancing access to social protections and essential services, and skills development. We also support enhanced social communication strategies on the contribution of migrants to sustainable development to combat discrimination, negative stereotyping and disinformation.

Third, as we face

challenges that are complex, transboundary and interconnected, multilateralism with the UN at the center is more crucial than ever. We reaffirm our support for the UN's role in promoting development, including through its in-country presence and its ability to mobilize partnerships to support developing countries in attaining their development priorities. We underscore that development cooperation should be targeted and tailored to specific challenges and vulnerabilities of developing countries, including middle-income countries. And we also reaffirmed the role of the UN in promoting South-South and triangular cooperation and in global economic governance, including in advancing comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative

of the United States.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, in this joint debate. Guatemala aligns itself with the statement of the G77 and China. It is essential to ensure that the digital transformation and the increasing global interdependence contribute to sustainable development and to more equitable distribution of its benefits. Closing digital gaps is essential to reducing also AI gaps. connectivity, digital infrastructure, high-quality data, institutional capacities, and human talent are essential so that developing countries can fully make use of the new technologies. Guatemala considers that artificial intelligence must contribute to reducing inequalities. Its development must be ethical, secure, protected, and safe. Protection of data is essential and non-discrimination is also essential. As a pluricultural, multilingual and multiethnic country, Guatemala gives particular importance to a digital transformation that also recognizes cultural diversity and linguistic diversity, favors territorial integration and takes account of indigenous ancestral community knowledge. Guatemala thinks it's essential to strengthen digital literacy, formation of human talent and information systems. Guatemala is making progress in inter-institutional communication and the formulation of an AI system that is based on ethical and objective development principles. In a world that is increasingly interdependent, Guatemala thinks that developing countries must participate not just as users of technologies, but also in the definition of standards, frameworks and governance mechanisms. We agree with the SG and the recommendations made by the high-level assessing body on AI, and we believe in the UN as a universal system for dialogue on AI in which all states can participate on an equal footing. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Singapore.

Thank you, Chair. Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the G77 and China and ASEAN. Digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, are transforming our economies and societies at unprecedented speed. It can help developing countries deliver essential services at scale, and small states overcome traditional barriers to scale and access. Allow me to highlight three points. First, capabilities.

We must

take a lifelong approach to upskill and reskill our people, businesses, and government to make the most of technology. In Singapore, we do this through initiatives such as our Tech Skills Accelerator and the National AI Impact Programme, which include structured internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job learning opportunities. Second, confidence. For people to embrace technology, they must have the confidence both in the technologies and in their own ability to navigate the digital world safely. Singapore takes a risk-based and practical approach to AI governance, developing tools and frameworks such as AI Verify and Project Moonshot to help organisations deploy AI responsibly. as well as to strengthen digital literacy and wellness. Third, cooperation. Technology transcends borders, and no country can address its challenges alone.

Singapore works with many partners around the world on common challenges.

Through the Digital Forum of Small States, we support digital capacity building for fellow small states with partners such as UNDP and ITU. Through the Singapore Digital Gateway, we have made our digital strategies, governance frameworks, and open source tools more accessible.

And under Singapore's ASEAN chairmanship next year, we will support ASEAN's

shared ambition to harness AI as a driver of inclusive growth and social progress. Mr. Chair, as technology becomes increasingly complex and sophisticated, No country can navigate these challenges alone. Singapore will continue to work with our partners to build a common digital future that is inclusive, trusted, resilient and interoperable, which everyone can participate in and benefit from. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Singapore. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative, permanent representative of Burundi. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. Chair, Burundi associates itself with the statements made by Uruguay and Gambia on behalf of the G77 and China and the LDCs. ICTs offer great possibilities to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However, the continuing digital divide is still depriving many developing countries of the benefits of the digital transformation. Burundi would like to underline that universal, affordable and reliable access to the Internet, the development of digital infrastructure, the building of skills and technology transfer must be priorities of international cooperation. Particular attention should be paid to LDCs and LLDCs who are facing specific structural constraints. We also think that AI and emerging technologies must be put at the service of humanity and of sustainable development, particularly in education, health, agriculture and public services. Their governance must be inclusive, responsible and fair, allowing developing countries to participate fully in their design, use and the related decisions. Burundi reaffirms the importance of digital government that is open, inclusive and transparent, based on international law, and that allows the effective participation of all states. We also insist that it is necessary to enhance cybersecurity, to protect data, and to promote a safe and secure digital environment that respects human rights. We therefore call upon development partners, IFIs, the private sector and the UN system to enhance concessional financing, technological partnerships and capacity building, paying particular attention to the needs of the most vulnerable countries. Mr Chair, Burundi believes that the digital transformation must leave no country and no person behind. We are committed to enhanced multilateral cooperation in order to transform the digital divide into development opportunities, shared prosperity and progress for all. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Burundi. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, Chair. The Maldives aligns with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of G77 China and Palau on behalf of AOSIS. Frontier technologies like AI hold immense potential as tools for development. Access to these technologies can and must expand choice for countries and for their people. We wish to highlight three practical points. First, access must bridge divides. Equitable access to technology, especially frontier technology, requires overcoming obstacles to connectivity, strengthening digital infrastructure, and building resilience of critical infrastructure. Access must also reach all levels of the society, from the poorest to the vulnerable. The aim is to open doors for growth and development for everyone. Second, technology must support governance. For archipelagic states like the Maldives, technology has eliminated the physical distance between our islands. Complex medical procedures, education and government services can be conducted and delivered to the remotest island virtually and digitally. Technology can also support us to strengthen governance of our EEZ, including addressing IUU fishing, smuggling of contraband and address human trafficking. Finally, technology must be governed. As frontier technology continue to be developed at a fast pace, the governance frameworks must also keep pace. It cannot be done by one state by themselves. An effective governance framework must encourage safe and productive development of technology like AI, while also enhancing access to those technologies for everyone. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Maldives. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China, and would like to add the following in its national capacity. The world is on the cusp of an artificial intelligence arms race, fuelled by the ubiquity of digital and emerging technologies' role and influence in all, if not most, aspects of life. The Secretary General's report, which we are considering today, warns that highly unequal access between and within countries to frontier technologies, especially digital infrastructure, digital skills and data, are widening general technology and digital divides, leading to deepening global inequality.

To address this challenge, it is crucial

that developing countries are not left behind in development of digital and frontier technologies. To this end, South Africa proposes the following. One, participation of developing countries in global AI governance frameworks. Put colloquially, developing countries should have a seat at the table of AI global governance in order for global AI governance to reflect their concerns and ambitions. Two, development and nurturing of AI ecosystems in developing countries. This is why capacity building, and more specifically, a global fund for AI capacity building, is important.

To this end, operationalization of the Secretary-General's

report on innovative voluntary financing options for AI capacity building would be an important first step towards development of AI ecosystems in developing countries.

Three.

addressing the gender digital divide through tailor-made programs to increase the participation of women in the AI value chain. Closing the gender digital divide could unlock up to $1.5 trillion in global gross domestic product. In conclusion, it is South Africa's firm view that involvement of developing countries in international AI governance, international support for AI ecosystems in developing countries, and addressing the gender digital divide will contribute to closing all digital divides and mitigate further global inequality.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of South Africa, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Mr. Chair, thank you. Brazil aligns itself with the speech delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and I'd like briefly to talk a little bit about Brazil's position on the ICT's resolution. We welcome the draft that G77 will present, and we see it as a balanced reflection of the aspiration and priorities of both developing and developed nations. It is certainly not perfect, but in our view, it represents a realistic and possible basis for consensus. On the one hand, the draft addresses longstanding priorities of the global south, including Brazil, particularly technology transfer, capacity building, and the persistent digital divides. On the other, it also addresses issues of particular importance to developed countries. Our colleagues from the North will welcome in particular the recognition of the new permanent IGF within the UN framework, an outcome they, alongside us, Brazil, advocated for. But the draft goes further in welcoming the outcomes of the WSS+3 processes. and provides a basis for addressing the new challenges posed by AI, including through the second global dialogue on AI to be held here in this city next May. It also takes note of the 30th session of the CSTD and its priority focus on data governance for development, a subject of particular importance for Brazil, which is currently presiding over the working group on data governance of the CSTD. Moreover, the draft expresses concern that many developing countries still lack meaningful and affordable access to ICTs, and it stresses the need to achieve universal, meaningful, and affordable access to the Internet by 2030. There are, however, areas where we believe the text could be more ambitious. And when I say more ambitious, I have three things in mind. information integrity, environmental sustainability, and digital public infrastructure. On information integrity, we should be clear, appropriate regulatory and institutional frameworks are not obstacles to technological development. They're essential to ensuring that technology develops in a safe, secure, interest-worthy manner. We therefore believe the issue deserves stronger language here in the UN. On environmental sustainability of ICTs, the current text limits itself to recognizing the potential of the technology to reduce negative environmental impacts. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, we believe we can and should go further than that. Finally, on DPI, the draft rightly recognizes the potential to deliver services at scale while respecting the diversity of national models and priorities. But we should also recognize the importance of international DPI and the need to safeguard nationally developed, inclusive, and public-oriented digital infrastructures from external interference. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Brazil and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand.

Thailand align itself with a statement delivered on behalf of the G77 and China in ASEAN. Digital transformation is creating new opportunities but its benefit remain uneven. As ICTs drive progress across the SDGs, developing countries need the infrastructure, skills and capacity needed to participate fully in the digital economy. Thailand highlights four priorities. First, we must close digital divides within and among countries. Access to ICTs should be safe, affordable, reliable, and equitable, supported by digital literacy, local language content, and wider access to public services and finance. Thailand is implementing the TIES Help TIES Plus scheme, connecting citizens and small businesses through digital co-payments. As host of the 2026 IMF World Bank Group Annual Meetings, we will advance the Bangkok Blueprint on safe and inclusive digital finance to ensure that digital finance is not only more accessible but also safe for and more trusted. Second, we must strengthen people's capacity and national capability to be AI ready. Developing countries need the skills, infrastructure, data, and computing resources supported by financing, capacity building, and technology transfer. Thailand is increasing investment in digital and AI infrastructure while implementing our first big data strategic plan and Thailand AI passport scheme to widen AI literacy and access. We are also developing an AI governance sandbox to test governance and approaches for broader application. Third, digital inclusion require trust and interoperable data flow beyond borders. Thailand supports stronger regional and cross border cooperation, including through the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement to facilitate digital trade. Last year, Thailand together with UNODC co-hosted the International Conference on Global Partnership Against Online Scams. which underscore the importance of international cooperation and information sharing to combat illicit financial flows across regions. Fourth, globalization must become more inclusive and development-oriented so that technological progress narrows development gaps and expands opportunities for all. Developing countries need an enabling international environment that support economic diversification and stronger domestic industry so that they can participate more effectively in the global economy. share. Following WSS+20, Thailand supports closer alignment between the WSS framework and the Global Digital Compact to promote more coherent and inclusive digital cooperation and governance. Together, we must ensure that digital transformation is equitable and inclusive so that ICTs can become a true driver for sustainable development. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Thailand, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Mr. Chair, India aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Group of 77 and China. We thank the Secretary General for the reports under these agenda items. The reports highlight how technological change is reshaping globalization, employment, and development opportunities. They also underscored that the benefits remain unevenly distributed. Our discussions should therefore focus on practical cooperation that expands access to technology, strengthen productive capacities, and enables developing countries to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their development. India underscores that rapid advances in AI and other frontier technologies must not deepen existing digital and development divides. Meaningful connectivity encompassed affordability, quality, devices, digital skills, and online safety, and must remain central to our efforts. India's experience with inclusive, population scale digital public infrastructure demonstrate how technology can advance financial inclusion, public service delivery, and sustainable development. As we implement the VCS+20 outcome, we must preserve its development focus, strengthen capacity building for developing countries, and ensure coherence between VCS and the Global Digital Compact, avoiding duplication while maximizing synergies across the UN system. Mr. Chair, globalization must provide developing countries with fair opportunities to trade, innovate, and move up value chains. The United Nations should promote policy coherence across trade, finance, technology and development, while respecting national ownership and policy space. Greater developing country representation in global economic decision-making remains essential. On international migration, India recognizes the contribution of migrants to country of origin and destination. Safe, orderly, and regular migration requires cooperation on fair recruitment, recognition of qualifications, protection of migrant workers, and portability of social security benefits. Discussion on mixed migration flows must not conflate legal frameworks governing refugees and migrants, as this does a disservice to both groups. India has strengthened recruitment transparency through e-migrate, grievance redressal through Madad, and assistance through the Indian Community Welfare Fund. Our scaling and pre-departure orientation programs, alongside bilateral migration and mobility agreements, support safer pathways for overseas employment. The Secretary-General's reports also identify the continuing burden of remittance costs, reducing these costs towards the SDG target, including through accessible and interoperable digital payment systems, can leave more resources with families for education, health, and life. India remains committed to practical international cooperation that connects digital inclusion fair economic opportunities and safe and orderly and regular migration with progress towards the sustained.

I thank the distinguished representative of India, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Chair, China aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China. Information and communications technology, or ICT for short, are a pioneering force for innovation-driven development, a pillar sector for national-level socio-economic development, and a strategic frontier for future development. In recent years, China continues to advance the use of 5G and other ICTs to empower a wide spectrum of industries. scaled up replication has been achieved across sectors such as industry mining power and ports in this process a range of high value application scenarios and Solutions have been delivered such as 5g plus AI machine vision and on-site assisted assembly thus enabling better quality lower costs and increased efficiency China believes the International Community should work together and give full play to the role of ict's to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 agenda. Let's do the following, expand international internet broadband capacity and make the global communication networks more resilient. actively participate in standard setting by ITU and other international organizations, and encourage industry, academia, and research institutions to actively engage in ICT cooperation under bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, including the ITU all-in-all international cooperation. Information infrastructure needs to be stepped up, featuring greater exchange of experiences in 5G and other digital applications going forward. China will uphold the concept of sustainable ICT development, actively support ITU and other UN specialized agencies in staging discussions on relevant topics and formulating standards in a joint endeavor to advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of China, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brunei Darussalam.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Brunei Darussalam aligns itself with the statement delivered by Singapore on behalf of ASEAN and Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. We gather today at a critical juncture of another technological revolution. Artificial intelligence emerges one of the most consequential technologies of our time, with profound implications for how societies grow and govern themselves. Its benefits must be shared in an inclusive manner by all and not left to accrue unevenly. Brunei Darussalam recognizes that AI holds considerable potential to accelerate progress across the wider 2030 agenda. Guided by the Brunei Vision 2035, Brunei has made steady progress towards the SDGs and approaches AI with a commitment to balance innovation with safety. Mr. Chair, the recently launched Digital Brunei 2030, the Digital Brunei Transformation Plan, brings together national strategies integrating AI across all sectors, including education, public sector governance, and industrial development. The strategic framework aims to deliver national projects through to 2030, including the development of an AI-capable data center, the implementation of a national sovereign cloud with AI compute capabilities, and a Brunei context national large language model. Furthermore, Brunei's guide on AI governance and ethics sets up the guiding principles for government and private sector entities addressing the risks of generative AI. Mr. Chair, Brunei Darussalam sees three priority areas where international cooperation on AI can be strengthened. The first is safety, where common standards and cross-border coordination are needed to guard against cyber attacks, disinformation, and the misuse of AI systems. Secondly, infrastructure, where more inclusive models would help smaller and developing states access computing resources. Thirdly, human capital, where investment in digital literacy and regional exchange of expertise will determine whether the benefits of AI are widely felt or narrowly confined. To conclude, allow me to share the words of His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen, the Minister of Foreign for Nafaza Brunei Darussalam, and I quote, "Brunei Darussalam sees AI as an important tool for development, but one that should be accompanied by sensible safeguards

from the outset.

This is why Brunei supports AI governance that promotes transparency, accountability, privacy, safety, and human oversight, while still allowing innovation to grow." I thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of Brunei Darussalam, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that international migration and sustainable development are interlinked. The safe and orderly management of migration requires effective international cooperation and constructive partnerships among countries of origin, transit, and destination. This must be done with full respect for the sovereignty of states and their national laws and priorities, taking into account their circumstances and needs and the labor markets. Guided by this approach, the Kingdom continues its effort to implement the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of expertise and best practices. My country hosts more than 13 million residents who work and contribute to national development. We work to promote transparency in labor within our 2030 vision. Also, we attach particular importance to combating trafficking in persons, exploitation, and forced labor. We have adopted the national policy to eliminate forced labor, which is based on prevention and protection, stronger legislative and oversight frameworks, as well as fair recruitment practices and the protection of workers from all forms of exploitation without discrimination. The Kingdom considers that regular migration, when managed effectively and responsibly, is an opportunity for development and not merely a challenge. It helps meet labor market needs, draw on skills and expertise, transfer knowledge, and strengthen economic and development ties between countries of origin and destination. In this context, migrant remittances play an important role in supporting the economies of countries of origin and in achieving sustainable development goals. Outward remittances by residents of the Kingdom reached $44 billion in 2025. We stress that we need to address the root causes of irregular migration. This means supporting sustainable development, creating economic opportunities, promoting stability, and building capacity in countries of origin, as well as combating networks engaged in trafficking in persons and the smuggling of persons to ensure that they move safely and regularly and protecting -- while protecting their dignity and rights. The Kingdom affirms that we will continue to promote a transparent labor market, and we continue to work with international relevant organizations. In conclusion, my country renews its commitment to working with the international community in the spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility towards more effective and balanced migration policies that protect rights, respect the sovereignty of states, and contribute to sustainable development and shared benefit of countries of origin and destination alike. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.

I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia. And And before I hand over to the next delegation, I'd like to call upon delegations to make reasonable use when they have their, when they read their, make their statements so that the interpreters can do their job. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Mr. Chair, Cuba aligns itself with the declaration of the G77 and China. 52 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Protraction on the establishment of a new international economic order, The related principles of equity, sovereign equality, cooperation and solidarity remain fully relevant. However, the promise of representative, development-oriented economic governance has not been kept. Today's world is suffering from the devastating effects of geopolitical conflicts, UCMs, trade fragmentation and high costs of financing. On the other hand, dozens of nations today to spend more on paying their debt interest than on health or education, while the external debt of developing countries has reached a new record of $12.3 trillion. Mr Chair, these inequalities are reproduced in the technological sphere. According to the ITU, in 2025, around 6 billion people were using the internet, but more than 2.2 billion still have no access. AI can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, but it can also deepen inequalities if its controlling governments are concentrated in a few hands. The implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the results of the WSIS+20 must promote international cooperation, capacity building and technology transfer. Globalization must offer shared opportunities, cooperation and solidarity. UCMs contradict that spirit. The blockade of the United States against Cuba, which has tightened to extreme and unprecedented levels with the energy siege and secondary measures, is a collective punishment against my people. The declared aim of the United States to strangle Cuba is causing deaths and it has a major impact on the deterioration of living conditions of the Cuban people and its access to vital services. It is essential to build a new international economic order, an order which ends relations of domination and the profound existing inequalities that ensures that developing countries have effective participation in global economic governance and respects permanent sovereignty over countries' natural resources. This isn't a matter of administrating or managing the inequalities of the current system, but transforming it so that development, cooperation, and the welfare of peoples prevail over the interest of a few. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Cuba, and I now give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

Thank you, Chair. Digital transformation is increasingly shaping all aspects of our societies, creating new opportunities to advance sustainable development, innovation, and economic growth. The strategic priorities of the government of Armenia in the field of digital technologies drive our actions in the sector of innovation, the establishment of the Firebird AI factory, a state of the art public private initiative, developing cooperation with Nvidia and Dell Technologies is the most recent achievement in this regard. Our domestic efforts are closely complemented by our multilateral engagement aimed at fortifying global frameworks in this field. In this regard, I am pleased to inform that on October 7, the Human Rights Council unanimously adopted the resolution on strengthening international cooperation for the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls in the context of digital technologies, presented by Armenia and cross-regional core group consisting of Estonia, Rwanda, Uruguay, Senegal, Sweden, and Kazakhstan. The resolution addresses the opportunities provided by digital technologies, including AI, in the context of human rights, as well as the challenges associated with them. A key pillar of the resolution is the promotion of international cooperation, considering the cross-border nature of technologies and the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and their effective governance. Meantime, multilateral cooperation is key for unlocking the potential of technologies as a catalyst for sustainable development, which requires enhanced institutional capacity and digital literacy. For smaller and landlocked economies, digitalization can help overcome geographical constraints, expand access to international markets, and create new opportunities for trade in services and participation in global value chains. We are looking forward to join forces with all those who share these goals. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Armenia and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway, speaking also on behalf of Finland.

Thank you, Chair. I speak on behalf of Finland and Norway. Access to technology and digital infrastructure of all countries is a key priority for Norway and Finland. We have long supported international efforts to advance digital public goods, particularly as tools to help bridge digital divides. This remains an important part of our contribution to inclusive digital development. Artificial intelligence is a powerful new tool, and all countries should have the opportunity not only to use AI, but also to govern and benefit from it. The rapid development of frontier technologies poses serious risk to safety and security if not well managed. This is why Finland's president and Norway's prime minister recently called for enhanced international cooperation on the governance of frontier AI models. We hope more member states will join the call. We must address the risks and strengths oversight without widening the gap between countries in access to the benefits of AI. Chair, Norway and Finland supported the Global Digital Compact and the establishment of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Because we remain fully committed to these processes and are mindful of our collective commitment to the UN80, we have concerns regarding the draft resolution entitled Supporting the Functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Dialogue on AI Governance. Resolution 80/251 calls on member states to carefully consider the existing mandate and scope when proposing new initiatives. We thank the Russian Federation for submitting a concept note. but argue that resolution 79/325, which was adopted by consensus in the General Assembly, already defines the functioning of both the Panel and the Dialogue. In this context, Norway and Finland believe that questions concerning their work should be considered within the framework that Member States have already agreed on. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Norway. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait.

In the name of God. My delegation aligns itself with the statement of G77 and China. I would like to thank you and the members of the Bureau for your work, and the Secretary-General for his reports. Mr. Chair. world witnesses an overlap of economic environment and technological challenges this requires enhanced international cooperation towards more just technologies three-quarters of the world's population live in in a region that contributes 40% of the GDPs. However, they suffer from debt burden and they face difficulties in receiving concessional financing. Hence, the state of Kuwait stresses the need to achieve development and reform the international financial architecture. And, Mr. Chair, The State of Kuwait attaches great importance to harnessing ICTs in the area of development. We support this through e-government services within our vision for 2035. We promote international cooperation in this area, and we have multilateral cooperation on AI for digital transformation. This includes skill development, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. These partnerships must build capacity and enhance the participation of developing countries in the world economy. We have signed, on the 25th of September, the UN Convention on Cybercrime. This proves our commitment to this cause. Mr. Chair, the State of Kuwait affirms the importance of implementing the Digital Compact, and we call for international cooperation to bridge the digital divide and invest in infrastructure and provide internet to all. Here, we stress our support to the working group and the dialogue on AI governance. In closing, We stress that success of globalization rests on bridging divides and providing prosperity to peoples. We call for international cooperation based on mutual understanding for the equal benefit sharing towards the 2030 sustainable development agenda, leaving no one behind. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Kuwait, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my delegation would like to fully align itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the G77 and China, as well as the LDCs. In a world undergoing serious transformation, ICTs are a powerful driver of social and economic development, as well as of public service improvement job creation, and can also help us to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. For Burkina Faso, this digital revolution can only fulfill all of its promises if it is inclusive, accessible, sovereign, and tailored to the realities of developing countries. Mr. Chairman, Burkina Faso has made digital transformation the fulcrum of our structural transformation. Despite a difficult context, we've made significant progress. Mobile internet penetration rates reached 83% in 2024. Meanwhile, the national fiber optic cable network went from 1,901 kilometers in 2016 to 11,291 kilometers in 2023. Digitalization is also helping to modernize our public administration and to bring public services closer to our citizens. Mr. Chairman, digital tools are also tools of economic sovereignty and resource mobilization. Thanks to the digitalization of our customs and tax administration, domestic revenue mobilization increased by 16.18%. percent a year between 2023 and 2025. Digital tools can improve access to agricultural and climate information or data, facilitate telehealth, ensure the continuity of teaching, as well as bolster environmental monitoring and contribute to early warning systems. It can also help us to accelerate the achievement of SDGs in key sectors such as agriculture, health, education, the environment and energy. Mr. Chairman, our experience demonstrates that investments in digital infrastructure, the digitalization of public services, and capacity building can make a tangible contribution to transforming our economies and improving the living standards of our people. For Burkina Faso, the digital transformation should therefore allow developing countries to progressively move from being consumers of technologies to becoming producers of solutions, content and added value. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Burkina Faso, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The digital transformation is redefining development opportunities and the way in which our countries participate in the global economy. For El Salvador, this process goes beyond digitalizing procedures or broadening connectivity. It means that we need to build national capacities that coordinate between public policies, infrastructure, talent, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. Our country has put that transformation at the heart of its development strategy. We've strengthened our institutional regulatory framework, and we're making progress in the application of new technologies in public services and strategic sectors. AI is now helping to modernize processes and to enhance capacities in areas such as health, education, and public management. For El Salvador, technological sovereignty doesn't mean isolation, but rather having the capacity to decide, adopt, and adapt technologies in accordance with our national priorities; to develop talent and cooperate with reliable partners. Closing digital divides, therefore, requires going beyond access. Developing countries need infrastructure, computing capacity, data, knowledge and financing, and they need effective participation in technological value chains. Cooperation must result in installed capacities, and it must allow our countries to participate also in the creation and adaptation of technology. With regard to AI, El Salvador reaffirms its full support for the framework agreed by Member States in resolution 79/325, and with the modalities and the sequence established for that resolution's implementation and follow-up. We think it is important that this process should advance as agreed and that each of its stages should fulfil the purpose for which it was established. Future efforts must reinforce this framework and preserve the coherence of the process, avoiding duplication, fragmentation or parallel tracks that might anticipate decisions that correspond to later stages. We also think that it's essential to maintain the character, the Member State-led character of these processes, with the UN system and the Secretariat playing an essential role in terms of technical support, coordination, and implementation of the agreed-upon mandates. Mr. Chair, globalization also has a human dimension. With regard to migration, El Salvador is promoting an holistic approach that takes account of factors that promote irregular migration and increase regular routes, protect people in mobility, enhance links with the diaspora and make it possible to return.

And the microphone has been cut off.

Muchas gracias.

Many thanks to the representative of El Salvador. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Venezuela.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela aligns itself with the Declaration of Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. In a globalized world that we're living in, we underline the importance of international cooperation to close the digital divide between developed and developing countries and avoiding that states or companies exploit their technological power to undermine the digital sovereignty of other states. The Secretary General's report on sustainable development and globalization points out that more than very many people have access to internet in 2025, and in 2023, one single country closed 70% of the world investment in AI. Venezuela believes that closing these gaps means that we need to enhance the global digital compact and more dialogue, improve the dialogue on AI. We are facing a historic change that is causing a great deal of development with, it's unprecedented, and we have established therefore a ministry of AI and productive efficiency. We think that AI should be a tool of social justice and a motor for our country. With regard to migration and development, we observe that, according to the SGU's report, the average world cost of remittances has increased by, it now accounts for 6% of the amount transferred, more than twice the agreed rate of 3% for the 2030 agenda, we want to reduce that amount. Among the factors that affect on supply chains and global trade, there are UCMs. We call for genuine multilateralism based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We're advancing to a new stage marked by cooperation and types of work. We need to make progress in improving our productive capacities, and it needs to be based on science, technology and innovation. As a sovereign state, we are going to build well-being and opportunities for our people. In conclusion, we are committed to making more efforts to achieve a new international economic order and defend the UN Charter by honouring our commitment to leave no one behind. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Venezuela, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ethiopia aligns itself with the statements delivered by G77 in China and the G groups, and we would like to highlight the following in our national capacity. Against the backdrop of slow progress and reversal in the implementation of SDGs, science, technology and innovation has become a major accelerator of the 2030 agenda. However, expanding global digital divide within and between states exacerbate existing digital divides. The report of the Secretary-General highlighted the urgency of addressing this highly unequal access between countries on frontier technologies, skills and data. Mr. Chair, Ethiopia is rapidly fostering the integration of emerging technologies across all economic sectors, and we are digitalizing our economy and transformation strategy. Based on this, allow me to highlight the following. First, our newly launched national blueprint, Digital Ethiopia 2020 Strategy, which is aimed in addressing various challenges across various sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and service with scale and speed. Ethiopia's government is making important investments in enhancing service delivery in both public and private sectors through digital platforms to improve efficiency and accessibility. Second, Ethiopia's national digital ID system, FIDA, has now surpassed 50 million registered citizens with a target of covering 90 million residents. By 28 2028, FIDA is a key enabler of digital financial inclusion, facilitating secure digital identifications that are expanding access to bank accounts, digital payments, mobile wallets, credits, and other financial services. As I conclude, Mr. Chair, the international community must uphold its commitments in Global Compact to narrow the ever-widening global digital divide to ensure developing countries have equitable access to emerging technologies and innovations. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. And then I go to the floor to the distinguished representative of Oman.

Mr. Chair, the delegation of the Sultanate of Oman wishes to express its appreciation for the effort of the UN to strengthen the role of science, technology, and innovation as essential tools for achieving sustainable development. We take note of the report of the Secretary-General on progress made in implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society at the regional and international levels. The rapid development of technology, particularly AI, has opened up broad opportunities to boost economic growth, improve services, and raise productivity. At the same time, it has given rise to growing challenges related to the digital divide and disparities in access to technology, data, and digital skills. In that The Sultanate of Oman stresses the importance of enabling all states, especially developing countries, to benefit from technological transformation. This requires capacity building, the exchange of knowledge and expertise, the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, and greater investment in digital infrastructure, scientific research, and innovation. Madam Chair, the Sultanate of Oman attaches high priority to science, technology and innovation within the framework of Oman Vision 2040 as a key enabler of economic diversification and of a competitive knowledge and innovation-based economy. In this context, the Sultanate continues to implement the National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies. The program aims to expand the use of AI in the economic and development sectors, localize advanced technologies, build national capacity, and develop frameworks to ensure the safe, ethical, and responsible use of these technologies. The Sultanate is also implementing a new phase of digital transformation for the period 2026-2030. It aims to raise the efficiency and quality of government services, harness artificial intelligence and data to improve performance and decision-making, and empower national talent to turn innovation into practical applications my continues to develop its national artificial intelligence model, as well as the artificial intelligence studio and national open data platform. It also strengthens research and development programs, building digital skills and expanding partnerships. We stress that bridging the digital divide is not limited to providing connectivity. It also requires developing skills and facilitating access to technology and data and digital capacity so that developing countries can develop their own solutions in line with their national priorities. The Sultanate also welcomes the work of the independent international scientific panel on AI and the global dialogue on AI governance. We underline the importance of building on international artificial intelligence governance systems that is inclusive and transparent, places people and development at the heart of its priorities, takes into account the needs of developing countries, and ensures their effective participation. In conclusion, the Sultanate of Oman--

the microphone.

Has been cut off.

I thank the representative of Oman, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cambodia.

Chair, my delegation aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, ASEAN and the LDC group. Now we wish to add the following remarks in our national capacity. Cambodia remains firmly committed to building an inclusive, people-centered, and development-oriented information society as envisioned by the World Summit on the Information Society. Guided by the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework and Digital Government Policy, we are developing a whole-of-society digital system to drive a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital economy. In June this year, our verify.com.kh the 2026 UN Public Service Award in the category of transparent and accountable public institutions for achieving the SDGs. The platform was launched in 2023 as a tool to eliminate document fraud, verify document authenticity, and accelerate the digital transformation of public services. It is now recognized by UNDP as the fourth pillar of digital public infrastructure, alongside digital identity, data exchange, and digital payments. and its success is being shared with several other countries. Chair, as technologies advance rapidly, not all countries are fully benefiting from them. Many developing countries continue to face gaps in digital infrastructure, skills, and affordable connectivity, raising new challenges for governance, safety, trust, and equitable access. Against this backdrop, my delegation wishes to offer the following points. First, we must close the digital divide, meaningful and equitable access to digital infrastructure, emerging technologies and localized digital tools is essential for developing countries, we call for enhanced cooperation on shared digital infrastructure and open source solutions to ensure affordability and inclusions. Second, we must invest in human capital. ICT-driven progress only runs back by human capabilities. We encourage stronger capacity building, technical assistance, and regional centers of excellence to help developing countries strengthen digital skills and participate meaningfully in the digital economy. Third, we must build digital governance frameworks that are inclusive, adaptable, and transparent. Regulatory mechanisms must be responsive to the needs of developing countries. Cambodia supports international efforts to promote safe, secure, trustworthy, and inclusive AI that contributes to sustainable development while respecting national priorities. In closing, Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to working with all Member States and partners to leverage ICT for sustainable development, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Cambodia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Secretary General for the report on the results achieved after WSS+20, and we align ourselves with the statement delivered on behalf of the G77 and China. The State of Qatar reiterates that this digital transformation is necessary to promote sustainable development. It is a tool to promote services, increase productivity, and support decision-making, and accelerate progress towards sustainable development. Mr. Chairman, the State of Qatar attaches great importance to promoting ICT within the vision of Qatar 2030 and our digital agenda 2030 in order to create a sustainable infrastructure and diversify our economy. We are working to promote a strategy for AI while promoting scientific research and capacities in this field and using partnerships in the processes. We have programs and initiatives that accelerate our digital transformation and improve our public services. Mr. Chairman, Qatar has heavily invested in our digital infrastructure to support AI, including fiber optic networks, data centers, and cloud computing. These investments allow to lay the necessary foundation for responsible AI applications. In this context, we have announced in December 2025 the establishment of CAI, the national company for AI, which aims to invest in infrastructure and AI applications. Mr. Chairman, the state of Qatar believes in the pivotal role of a global digital transformation in closing the digital divides. We believe in enhancing international cooperation through technology transfer, capacity building, infrastructure investments, and securing safe and equitable access to technology in order to achieve our SDGs. In this context, Qatar has actively participated in the UN process on the AI governance, reaching the first global dialogue on AI governance in Geneva. And in this context, we also mentioned the launch of the Global Alliance for AI in 2026, which is an initiative sponsored by our Qatari leadership. In conclusion, we reiterate our readiness to work in partnership with everyone in order to achieve our Agenda 2030. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I thank the representative of Qatar, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique.

Thank you, Chair. Mozambique aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group, G77 and China, and least developed countries. We take note of the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Information Society. More than ever, The nexus between technology and development is one of the undeniable realities of our time. Technology serves as a catalyst for change and progress in many areas, and sustainable development is not an exception. We recognize that the Seville commitment and the Global Digital Compact provide a solid framework for the optimization of the potential offered by the information and communication technology to advance sustainable development. Even so, we share the concern that unequal access between and within countries to frontier technologies are widening generally and digital device leading to the deepening of global inequalities. Chair, we should We hold the view that digital transformation must be measured by the opportunity it creates for people. A student accessing learning material, a young entrepreneur reaching new customers, or a citizen obtaining a public service more easily and securely. The vision of the government of Mozambique is to ensure that technology contributes to poverty reduction, inclusion, and achievement of sustainable development goals. My country is advancing this agenda through dedicated instruments, stronger legal frameworks, international cooperation, and practical investments in digital inclusion. As part of this vision, in January 2025, the government established the Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation, placing this agenda at the center of national development priorities. Chair, allow me to highlight a few areas of progress. First, Mozambique is strengthening the foundations of secure and trusted digital environment. In July 2026, Mozambique published the Cybersecurity Law and Cybercrime Law. Second, Mozambique is bringing connectivity to the communities through the Internet for All initiative launched in 2025. Third, Mozambique is addressing access to devices as an essential condition for participation. Thus, under the One Computer per Higher Education Student initiative,

I thank the representative of Mozambique. And then I give the floor to the General Representative of Iraq.

Thank you, Mr. Vice Chairman. Iraq aligns itself with the statement on behalf of the G77 and China, and we deliver the following in our national capacity. Digital technology is no longer a standalone sector. It is rather an instrument for achieving the SDGs from education, health, to food and water security. Accordingly, Iraq welcomes the outcomes of the 20-year review of WISESA, and we emphasize that the value of the digital transformation is measured by the ability to narrow gaps between countries, not by the speed of its spread. We welcome the appointment of the members of the independent international the establishment of the intergovernmental scientific panel on AI and commend the convening of the first session of the global dialogue on AI governance. These represent practical steps towards our implementation of agreements within the global digital compact. We stress the importance of ensuring balanced geographical representation in the work of the panel and that the assessments reflect our priorities and circumstances of developing countries and not solely the experiences of developed countries. session of the dialogue and the contribution to shaping the rules governing AI, we call for its agenda to prioritize bridging AI divides, building capacities in computing and skills, and facilitating technology transfer to developing countries so AI can become a tool for sustainable development rather than a source of persisting divides. Globalization must be inclusive and equitable. And we also underscore the vital importance of multilingualism and cultural diversity and dialogue among civilizations constitute an essential dimension of globalization. And the cyberspace must reflect this reality. Mr. Chairman, there has to be enough of a policy space to adapt development paths to national circumstances, countries must not be subject to imposing specific directions. We call for enhanced international cooperation to protect cultural heritage, including through digital documentation, and to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property. We reiterate our firm commitment to multilateralism with the UN at its core. And we call for a fair and inclusive international economic order based on the principles of the Charter, and particularly the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs. And the has been cut off.

I thank the representative of Iraq and I now give the floor

to the distinguished representative of Nepal.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nepal aligns itself with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the SADC and China and by the Gambia on behalf of LDC group. ICT holds transformative potential to drive inclusive growth, enhance public services and advance sustainable development goals. Yet over 2 billion people remain offline, and economic digital divide is widening within and between nations. Nepal has accorded high priority to digitalization. Building upon the national ICT policy and digital Nepal framework, we are prioritizing universal connectivity, digital public infrastructure, information integrity, interoperable government systems, citizen-centric services, and cybersecurity. The government has designated information technology as a strategic industry, envisioning Nepal as an emerging technology hub through digital parks, data centers, software exports, green computing, and innovation incentives. Our national AI policy 2025 promotes ethical, humane-centric innovation and responsible governance. We have indeed made encouraging progress in digital transformation in recent years. mobile penetration exceeds 100%, internet access has expanded significantly, and digital payments and digital public services continue to gain momentum. 8, geographical barriers, affordability, inadequate digital skills. cybersecurity risk, and limited investment constrain our ambitions. We therefore call for affordable digital infrastructure, technology transfer, concessional financing, stronger research ecosystems, and equitable access to AI capabilities. Global AI governance must protect human dignity without creating new technological hierarchies. We welcome continued UN-led dialogue on inclusive AI governance with meaningful participation of developing countries. Mr. Chair, globalization stands at a crossroads. Geopolitical fragmentation, trade restrictions, declining investment, and widening inequalities are undermining its promise, particularly for LDCs. Globalization must ensure shared prosperity and should not widen economic and digital inequalities. We advocate for fairer international economic governance, enhanced market access, productive capacity building, sustainable investment, and stronger South-South and triangular cooperation. We also call for effective implementation of Doha and OAS. over the program of action and strengthen support for UN Technology Bank for LDCs. Mr. Chair, migration is humanity in motion, connecting aspirations, economies, and societies. For Nepal, migration workers contribute immensely to national development through remittance, skills, and knowledge. We prioritize, we emphasize three priorities. First, safeguard migrant workers' dignity and rights through fair recruitment, decent work, accessible services, and social protection measures. Second, Reduce remittance costs through competitive interoperable digital payment system and financial inclusion. Third, harness diaspora investment, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer to generate productive employment and sustainable development. Nepal remains committed to leave no one behind.

I thank the representative of Nepal, and I now give the floor to the Deputy Representative of Bahrain.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. Mr. Chairman, in a world where technology development is very rapid, technology has become a necessary means to achieve the SDGs. Accordingly, the Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates the need to use AI and digital technologies to address the development challenges and to promote the quality of services and support growth and innovation. Mr. Chairman, the Kingdom of Bahrain continues its leading role in the area of digital transformation. and it remains committed to use technology in the service of sustainable development. In 2026, the Kingdom of Bahrain was ranked the sixth globally in the area of ICTs as per the ITU. The Kingdom of Bahrain was also ranked 15th globally in the index on electronic government as per the World Bank and was one of the highest digitally advanced states worldwide. In the area of developing the government's electronic services, the state has launched a platform under the name of Hukumaty, which is a one-stop shop to government services. In addition, it provides 720 digital services. which reflects the Kingdom's use of technology to facilitate access to public services. Mr. Chairman, my delegation would like to refer to the Secretary-General's report A/81/62 of this year on the significant digital gap, in particular, disfavoring LDCs. where the percentage of internet users is 57% compared to a much higher rate globally. Accordingly, we call for increased cooperation to increase access. In this regard, my country has reiterated the need to intensify our cooperation and to work together for global AI governance that serves peace. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates that the essence of digital progress is based on its ability to serve human beings. Technology must be used to achieve sustainable development. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Bahrain. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Chair, globalization and growing interdependence have created significant opportunities for economic growth poverty reduction, and improved living standards, while also highlighting persistent inequalities and challenges that require stronger international cooperation. In this context, the development pillar remains fundamental to the mandate of the United Nations, particularly in ensuring that global economic progress translates into inclusive and sustainable development and that no one is left behind. The United Nations has a vital role in advancing development by strengthening international cooperation, supporting the implementation of the 2030 agenda, and helping create an enabling environment for developing countries to advance their development priorities. This requires effective, trusted, inclusive, and results-oriented multilateralism with the United Nations at its center, in which all states, large and small, particularly developing countries, have an equal opportunity to participate in global decision-making and shape the international development agenda. Mr. Chair, international migration is an important dimension of globalization and an integral part of the development landscape. As highlighted in the Secretary General's report, international migration can contribute significantly to sustainable development through migrant skills, labor, knowledge, and remittance. At the same time, persistent inequalities and barriers to safe, orderly, and regular migration continue to constrain its development potential. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration provides an important framework for strengthening international cooperation and maximizing the contribution migration to sustainable development. Its implementation should be guided by shared responsibility, national ownership, and respect for different national realities, capacities, and priorities. As co-chair of the GCM Champion Countries Initiative for 2026, Azerbaijan is committed to promoting safe and orderly migration, mitigating vulnerabilities associated with irregular migration, and harnessing migrants' potential as a catalyst for sustainable development. Azerbaijan has taken sustained measures to advance effective migration governance with particular emphasis on reinforcing and expanding regular migration pathways. This year, Azerbaijan submitted its next national voluntary report on implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, highlighting national progress and measures taken to advance its objectives. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, Azerbaijan remains committed to strengthening international cooperation to ensure that globalization contributes to sustainable development and shared prosperity for all. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Azerbaijan and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative, the permanent representative of Angola. Ambassador, you have the floor.

I'm going to thank the Secretary General for his report and reaffirms that digital transformation might serve as a catalyst for sustainable development, economic diversification, and social inclusion. Rapid advance in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies offer unprecedented opportunities, but also risk widening inequalities, particularly for developing countries. Closing the digital divide requires more than internet access. It demands affordable and reliable connectivity, digital skills, access technology, and secure digital environments. Mr. Chair, Angola is advancing its digital transformation agenda through the Information and Communication Technology White Paper 2023-2027, prioritizing connectivity, cybersecurity, public administration modernization, and innovation. The AngoSat-2 satellite contributes to bridging connectivity gaps, while Angola Information and Communication Technology Forum, AngoTIC, promotes partnership among governments, the private sector, academia, and innovators. Angola is also developing its national strategy for artificial intelligence and digital governance, while strengthening digital skills and inclusive public digital infrastructure. Excellencies, to ensure that technological progress accelerates sustainable development goals, Angola calls for three priority actions. First, scale up financing, technology transfer, and capacity building, particularly for developing countries, including through regional innovation centers and South-South cooperation. Second, promote equitable access to artificial intelligence, including open-source solutions, while strengthening transparent, accountable, and human rights-based governance. Third, ensure coordinated and effective implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the outcome of 20-year review of the World Summit on Information Society, strengthening coherence across the United Nations system avoiding duplication, and translating commitments into measurable progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Chair, Angola reaffirms its commitment to inclusive multilateral digital cooperation that respects national priorities and empowers women, young people, and rural communities. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that technological advancement becomes a driver of shared prosperity, leaving no country or community behind. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Angola. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Chair, digital transformation is reshaping how countries grow, deliver services, and respond to crises. To make it a driver of the sustainable development goals, We need sustained investment in affordable and reliable connectivity, digital skills, and secure digital public infrastructure. Moreover, connectivity alone is not enough. Digital inclusion must also translate into practical benefits for the communities it serves. Artificial intelligence, in particular, stands out for its potential to accelerate progress on the SDGs in fields such as climate adaptation, education, healthcare, and agriculture, where the UAE has developed partnerships that translate agricultural data into solutions tailored to farmers' needs, aligned with national development priorities. For such opportunities to be fully realized, developing countries will need the capacities, skills, and infrastructure to develop and manage AI domestically, not just to consume it. It was with this in mind that the UAE launched a $1 billion initiative to expand AI infrastructure and AI-enabled services across African countries. At the same time, the rapid advancement of AI calls for practical, pro-innovation approaches for its safe and responsible development and use. The protection of women and girls, youth, and persons with disabilities is of particular concern. Both opportunity and safety should be taken forward at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in 2027, which serves as our only platform in which every country has a voice in shaping how AI serves development. Lastly, Responsible deployment must also address the energy and water demands of digital infrastructure, an issue highlighted in the UAE's recently published report, Crosscurrents, which tackles the AI water energy nexus. At the same time, digital technologies are among the most powerful tools we have to manage water. AI forecasting, satellite data, and smart monitoring can help countries anticipate droughts, reduce losses, and plan resources more efficiently.

As the UAE and Senegal prepare to co-host the 2026 UN Water.

Conference in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 10 December.

Our ambition will be to bring these solutions to scale.

For the first time, the conference will include an interactive dialogue dedicated to investments and technology for water. We encourage member states to participate in the conference at the highest level and look forward to welcoming you there.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the UAE and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My delegation aligns itself with the statements of the G77 and China, and with the African Group. And in our national capacity, we have the following comments to make. Ladies and gentlemen, the reports under consideration show that the fragmentation of exchanges and the configuration of value changes weakening the least diversified economies. In addition, Connectivity inequalities and inequalities in digital skills increase exclusion and the exclusion of these economies from globalization. For Cote d'Ivoire, the challenge is to participate fully in world production and to benefit in a more equitable share of the added value. Digitalisation must support that ambition by responding to the needs of our people, in particular in agriculture, education and health. Our country is contributing to globalisation, in particular through its port infrastructure, which is performing better and better, and through the local processing of its agricultural products, which is increasing greatly. The National Development Plan for 2026 to 2030 plans to increase the processing rate for cocoa in 2024 from 42% in 2024 and to 50% in 2030, and the coffee processing rate from 15% in 2024 to 50% in 2030. In parallel, Cote d'Ivoire has laid more and more fiber optic cable, and it has also increased the proportion of the population using the internet from 40.7% in 2024 to 60% in 2030. At the continental level, we welcome the operations of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, which offer levers to connect African markets. To accompany that dynamic, we have the following recommendations. First, preserve multilateral trade that is more open and more predictable. Secondly, make connectivity affordable, connect schools and rural areas, and enhance the skills and solutions in local languages as required in the Global Digital Compact. Thirdly, protect personal data and children by enhancing the fight against cybercrime and ensuring that African countries or Africans participate in the dialogue on artificial intelligence. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Cote d'Ivoire and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

Mr. Chair, Ukraine has shown that digital transformation is how a state keeps serving its people under attack.

Even during.

Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine rose from 102nd to 5th place in the online service index of the UN e-government survey. Today, more than 23 million Ukrainians use Diia, our state in smartphone, with nearly 200 public services and over 30 digital documents. Ukraine was the first country in the world to introduce official digital passports. Couples can marry online, entrepreneurs register a business in minutes, and families whose homes were damaged by Russian strikes apply for compensation from their phones. More than 800,000 Ukrainians have opened business through Diia, and 85% of users are satisfied with digital public services. But this is exactly what Russia is trying to destroy. In just the past two weeks, Russian drones and missiles have struck data centers in Kyiv and the headquarters of the largest mobile operator. Around 100,000 households lost internet, and one strike on a data center actually wounded two children. When networks go down, so do air raid alerts, online lessons, and every service that I just described. Mr. Chair. The same war that targets our networks has forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their homes, many of them young. For them, a phone signal and a digital passport are often the only link to family and to the state they left behind. We're deeply grateful for the host countries for extending temporary protection and opening their schools and universities for Ukrainians. As a UN youth delegate, I lead a network of Ukrainian youth organizations in more than 20 countries. And these young people are a unique generation. They are volunteering, studying, working, and many of them want to bring their skills back home. So migration becomes a driver of development when young people can keep their ties with their country, have their qualification recognized, and see a real path to return and contribute. So Ukraine calls on member states to support circular and return migration, mutual recognition of education and skills, and meaningful participation to young migrants in decisions that affect them. Digital services like those Ukraine provides its citizens abroad can make this connection real.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of Ukraine, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, my colleague.

Distinguished colleagues, the Russian Federation would like to align itself with the statement delivered by Cuba on behalf of like-minded countries. We'd like to make the following remarks in a national capacity. As things stand, the digital sector accounts for between 16 and 22% of global GDP. ICTs, including AI, are now the main or one of the main drivers of globalization. accelerating cross-border flows of goods, services, capital, data and knowledge. There's increasing demand for them in the context of SDG implementation. Yet high-tech resources and productive capacity, they're distributed very unequally. de facto, they're controlled by a narrow group of states and companies. We're delighted that many are starting to understand just how corrosive the situation is for global development and are trying to fix it by implementing national digitalization policies, taking measures so as to shore up technological sovereignty, including implementing decisions on the basis of open source code. This is something many participating states spoke about at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, which took place in Geneva in July. Similar ideas are reflected in the first report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. This report was published in July as well. Hence, this year, the Russian Federation submitted to the Second Committee a draft resolution in support of the activities of the Dialogue and the Independent Panel. The document does not establish any parallel processes. It is fully in keeping with UNGA resolution 79/325, which established the dialogue and the independent panel. The draft we prepared is depoliticized. It aims to take stock of the work that was done over the first year of these mechanisms of their work, and we believe it's positive. We call other Member States to support this initiative. Digital divides persist, including trade barriers, the geopoliticization of investment flows, and divergent approaches to regulation. They're resulting in the fragmentation of the global economy and restricting the opportunities of developing countries. These trends attest to the crisis in the former Western-centric globalization model, which doesn't meet the needs of this new situation, whereby the global South is playing a greater role. Having said that, these challenges do require us to strengthen international cooperation further. That's why we should not reject globalization, but shift to a multipolar model based on the sovereign equality of states.

The speaker's microphone.

Has been cut off. I thank the representative of the Russian Federation. And then I get the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Your Excellency, Kenya aligns herself with the statement delivered by the Group of 77 and China, and welcomes the Secretary-General's report on the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society. Kenya was honored to co-facilitate, alongside Albania, the WSIS+20 review, culminating in the adoption of its outcome document in December 2025. Our collective responsibility now is to translate these commitments into implementation, supported by clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and sustainable financing. Persistent divides in meaningful connectivity, digital infrastructures, skills, and access to emerging technology continue to constrain the development.

Developing countries, particularly in Africa, continue to constrain.

Continue to require great access to computing infrastructure, research capacity, opportunities to develop technologies responsive to their needs.

Artificial intelligence introduces new opportunities and risks within the YC's agenda.

We welcome the progress made in Geneva in July this year, including the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI governance. Together with the independent international scientific panel on artificial intelligence, these mechanisms can strengthen scientific understanding, broaden participation, and support informed international participation.

Kenya joined Finland and Norway and other partners in the call for.

Control of frontier in AI models, affirming the importance of meaningful human control, independent evaluation, and safeguard the proportionate risks. Our engagement during the high-level segment with AI middle powers also advances the shared sovereignty, equitable access to AI capabilities, and greater participation by developing countries in the shaping of the global governance agenda. These initiatives must reinforce the YCIS framework, advance the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, and strengthen multilateral system. Institutional coherence, respect for human rights, and meaningful multi-stakeholders participation remains essential.

Kenya will host the 21st Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi in December between 14th and 18th. And as the first forum.

Following its establishment as permanent United Nations forum, Nairobi provides an opportunity to advance the ICIS+20 implementations. Preparation are progressing very well with the IGF Secretariat, Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group, and partners, including dedicated engagement with governments, parliaments, judiciary, private sector, civil society, and the technical community.

We invite member states, stakeholders to participate.

Actively in Nairobi, strengthen the international cooperation, and advance practical responses to the opportunities and risk of the emerging technologies. Kenya remains committed to a multilateral system that preserves human agency.

I thank the representative of Kenya and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malta.

Malta aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. Chair, Malta welcomes the Secretary General's report. As it concludes, WISIS has become the cornerstone of an international digital cooperation over the past 20 years, but its benefits have yet to reach everyone.

The report.

Reminds us that 2.6 billion people remain offline and ITU data shows that women and girls are disproportionately affected. Universal and affordable access on the SDG target 9.6, 9.C, is still far from achieved, as education, employment and public services move Online closing this divide is a development imperative requiring investment in connectivity and digital infrastructure. Last December, WSIS+20 outcome gave us the framework to respond. Malta supports the roadmaps linking WSIS action lines to the SDG targets and the commitments of the Global Digital Compact. Coherence between WSIS and Compact implementation, avoiding duplication. Over and overlap in the spirit of UN80 will make our resources go further. The Internet Governance Forum, now a permanent body of the multi-stakeholder model and the multi-stakeholder model it embodies, remains with its most valuable legacy. Artificial intelligence brings real opportunity for development, but also risks and the capabilities remain concentrated in few hands. Global trust in AI depends on inclusive governance amongst governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia. This is why MOTA values both bodies established by the resolution 79325, each in its own role. The independent scientific panel providing evidence-based assessments and the inclusive multi-stakeholder global dialogue. As the dialogue heads to New York next May, it should shift from principles to action, starting with capacity building. Malta's realigned AI strategy, Malta AI, innovation meets trust for well-being, positions AI as an enabler of social well-being and sustainability. Our digital strategy, Malta Digitale, aims to ensure that all residents and businesses benefits from digital transformation. Inclusion means protection, especially of the most vulnerable. In this spirit, Malta is working with partners in coalition on children and the AI to promote safety by design.

Chair, Malta remains committed to governing.

Digital technologies and AI in line with the UN Charter, human rights and the SDGs, so that no one is left behind. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Malta and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland.

Chair, Poland aligns itself with the statement delivered by Ireland on behalf of the European Union and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity. Poland recognized the role of digital transformation and ICTs in strengthening democratic institutions, reducing social inequalities, improving access to public services, as well as access to information and education at all levels. In this context, we acknowledge the importance of the WSIS process in building an inclusive human rights-based and development-oriented informational society while ensuring continuity and adapting to emerging technological challenges. The multi-stakeholder model is essential for effective and legitimate digital governance, ensuring meaningful participation of governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia, with particular attention to developing countries and underrepresented groups. Accelerating progress in digital transformation requires focusing on digital skills, combating disinformation, and bridging the digital divide. Strengthening multi-stakeholder cooperation, including through a robust and sustainable Internet Governance Forum, is crucial to preserving an open, global, and interoperable Internet. Poland also welcomed the establishment of the independent international scientific panel on AI, on which the prominent Polish expert in this field has the honor to serve. The panel provides evidence-based expertise, strengthens global understanding of the opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligence, and contributes to the discussion on inclusive and human-centric AI governance. Colleagues, for Poland, human-centric AI means right-based AI. Therefore, at the 64th session of the Human Rights Council, Poland and the Cross-Regional Core Group presented a resolution on good governance and AI in public administration. When the state uses AI, the same principles of transparency, accountability and rule of law must apply. In conclusion, let me assure you that Poland values the practical significance of commitments and standards adopted within the UN specialized agencies and the ITU is a great example of how the UN cooperation can positively impact safety and the standard of living for all citizens. Therefore, as a country with over 100 years of experience of ITU membership since 1921, and as a candidate for re-election to the ITU Council for 2027-2030 term, I.

Thank the representative of Poland and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi.

Chaperson, Malawi aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the G77 and China and the least developed countries group. Malawi as both a least developed country and a landlocked developing country, digital transformation offers an opportunity to overcome geographical isolation, reduce business costs, strengthen public services, and connect our people to regional and global markets. Yet, high connectivity costs, unreliable electricity, limited digital skills, and persistent rural-urban disparities continue to constrain our participation in the digital economy. Malawi therefore emphasizes four priorities. First, we need to close the digital infrastructure and affordability gap. Broadband, reliable electricity, affordable devices, and last mile connectivity must be recognized as essential development infrastructure. Second, we need to strengthen productive capacities. Digital technologies must enable farmers to access markets, support small businesses through e-commerce, facilitate cross-border trade, and improve customs efficiency. Third, developing countries must become innovators and producers, not perpetual consumers of foreign technologies. To this end, international partners must strengthen national skills, research capabilities, and local innovation ecosystems, leaving sustainable institutional capacities behind. Fourth, we call for equitable access to AI skills, computing infrastructure, data, and research partnerships. Artificial intelligence offers transformative opportunities in agriculture, education, health, and disaster management, provided developing countries possess the capacity to shape and govern its application. Chairperson, digital transformation must also be accompanied by stronger cybersecurity, data protection, and institutional capabilities to ensure trust and security. Ultimately, digital progress must be measured not merely by connectivity, but by its contribution.

I thank the representative of Malawi. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon.

Mr. Chairman, Cameroon would like to align itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the G77 and China and the African Group. We have taken note of the Secretary-General's report on the digital revolution, which is affecting knowledge production and power relationships. My delegation is deeply disquieted by the fact that digital presents risks, becoming a new catalyst for new kinds of dependence, not only technological, but also economic and political. Because if a limited number of countries or companies design algorithms, control infrastructure and capture value, others are being turned into simple consumers of technologies which they themselves do not produce. Thus, the digital divide turns into a sovereignty divide. My delegation believes that there are still opportunities for us to sketch out more promising prospects. AI, data and innovation can and should become drivers of shared prosperity. To this end, we should go from cooperation on just connectivity, moving towards capacity building in developing countries, digital infrastructure, data centers. advanced R&D, sustained by innovative financing and effective technology transfer. On this note, Cameroon calls for the establishment in Africa of regional UN centres dedicated to ICTs, science, technology and innovation, so as to ensure that the African continent can fully participate in the fourth industrial revolution. Mr. Chairman, globalisation can only be humane and equitable if it creates value in places where people live, in particular the most vulnerable, those who have been left to their own devices. Globalization should not perpetuate a system whereby commodities, data, talent, and creativity is drained from the south to the north. All the while, added value, patents, platforms, and profits are concentrated elsewhere. It is this quest for humanity and equity which underpins our national 2030 development strategy, transforming, industrializing, developing local value change, strengthening digital financial inclusion, and giving our young people the means to produce, to innovate, and to take over new markets. This requires fairer global governance. We must therefore back up the Global Digital Compact with genuine investment so as to protect data, bolster cybersecurity, and effectively reduce structural asymmetries. Mr. Chairman, my delegation does not wish to slow technological progress. we believe that we must prevent this revolution from normalizing global economic inequalities. No person can be reduced to a market. No young people can't be seen solely as labor and no country should be seen as a simple data deposit. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Cameroon and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Nicaragua recognizes that ICTs can broaden access to education, health, public services and economic opportunities. Their contribution to sustainable development depends on their benefits reaching all peoples. The digital divide continues to separate developed and developing countries. It also affects rural communities, women and those who are facing greater difficulties in access to connectivity, devices and training. For Nicaragua, Closing that divide requires effective international cooperation, accessible financing, capacity building and technology transfer under fair conditions. Connectivity must be supported by knowledge that allows our peoples to use technology to meet their own needs. Our Government of National Reconciliation and Unity reaffirms its commitment to broadening learning opportunities and to making use of digital tools to benefit Nicaraguan families in accordance with our national development priorities. In a world that is increasingly interdependent, no country should be excluded from scientific and technological progress. Globalization must facilitate knowledge sharing, cooperation, and shared progress, with full respect for the sovereignty of states. ICRGU rejects UCMs that restrict access to technology, digital services, financing and knowledge. Such measures exacerbate inequality and hamper the development efforts of the affected countries. We reiterate our call for inclusive digital cooperation in which developing countries can participate in the decisions that will define the technological future. Technology must serve the well-being of peoples and interdependence must result in solidarity and development for all. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Nicaragua. And with that statement, we have now heard the last of this morning's session. We will see each other again this afternoon at 3 pm in this room to continue and conclude the joint discussion of agenda items 14 and 19. Please consult the live list of speakers for the latest list. As announced also, following the conclusion of the joint discussion of agenda items 14 and 19, the Committee will continue and conclude its joint discussion of agenda items 18 and 20. Please also consult the live list of speakers for the latest list. The meeting is adjourned.