Vienna, June 23, 2026. During the opening of the 42nd session of the Program and Budget Committee of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), taking place in Vienna, the Group of 77 plus China expressed its opposition to the application of unilateral coercive measures against developing countries, arguing that such practices violate international law, hinder the industrial and economic progress of nations in the Global South, and negatively impact multilateral cooperation.
The Group’s statement, presented by His Excellency Mr. Shambhu Santha Kumaran, Permanent Representative of India to UNIDO, emphasized that trade and investment restrictions undermine the multilateral trading system. The Group warned that these actions hinder Member States’ efforts to diversify and modernize their industrial sectors.
The G-77+China reaffirmed its firm conviction that effective multilateralism—which includes support for the United Nations development system and full respect for the UN Charter—constitutes the fundamental pillar for enhancing international solidarity, safeguarding the legitimate interests of all Member States, and strengthening countries’ capacities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, the Group reiterated the need to avoid the enactment and imposition of any unilateral coercive measures and protectionist actions that do not comply with international law.
The Group, which comprises 134 Member States and constitutes the largest coalition of developing countries within the United Nations system, concluded its statement by reaffirming that international cooperation based on mutual respect, non-interference, and the right to development is the only path to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable global industrial order.