Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres' message to the eleventh Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, today:

I thank the Government and people of Equatorial Guinea for hosting this Summit. And I congratulate the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States as you mark this milestone.

This group has been a platform for unity for 50 years. You represent 1.5 billion people across a dozen time zones. And your partnership is needed more than ever.

Around the world, we see conflicts raging - with profound impacts on the global economy. Inequalities widening, technology roaring ahead unchecked and the climate crisis wreaking havoc.

Despite all the challenges, your countries are forging innovative solutions - including on climate action and sustainable development.

And we know you can do far more if given a fair chance. That's why Member States must deliver on the Sevilla Commitment - by reducing the cost of capital, unlocking investment, easing debt burdens and reforming the international financial architecture and institutions so they truly work for developing countries.

It is why the Pact for the Future has approved key strategies and measures to better support your aspirations.

And it is why the world must do far more to confront climate injustice. African countries and small island developing States did not create this crisis, yet you are paying first and worst.

The biggest emitters are failing to keep global temperature rise above the 1.5°C limit. They must lead the way to drastically reduce emissions, support the acceleration of a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, and make good on promises for adaptation, and support for loss and damage to those on the front lines - throughout Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

I commend your agenda's focus on advancing partnerships for climate resilience, on securing affordable resources to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and on strengthening South-South cooperation and regional solidarity to drive transformation.

This group can be an engine of progress: Rebuilding trust in multilateralism and bringing greater investment in sustainable development and climate resilience.

I thank you for your strong partnership with the United Nations. I count on you to keep raising your voices. And you can count on me to keep fighting for you.

Let's work together to share solutions, strengthen resilience and deliver for the most vulnerable. Let us build a world where peace, equality and dignity become a reality for all. Thank you.