Manila, Sept. 29 -- The Philippines, as chair of the Like-Minded Group for Middle-Income Countries (LMG-MICs), called on the international community to rally behind reforms that address the unique challenges of middle-income countries (MICs), at the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the group at the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York from Sept. 9 to 28, 2025.

In her opening remarks on Sept. 25, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said MICs are rising as global development actors.

"We generate a third of global GDP (gross domestic product) and host 75 percent of the world's population. We are innovators and investors, peacebuilders and partners, climate-vulnerable but climate-responsive, and champions of...