The Group emphasizes that Programme Planning is essential to the functioning of the Organization, as it is the exercise that allows the legislative mandates of the various United Nations intergovernmental bodies and organs to be translated into concrete actions to ensure that the United Nations contributes to the development and well-being of our peoples.

The Programme Plan, as the Organization´s principal policy directive, must receive special attention in all its phases. The Group reiterates the role of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC), as the main subsidiary body of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council for planning, programming, oversight and coordination. We stress that the CPC plays a critical technical advisory role in the General Assembly's review of the United Nations programme plan. In this regard, providing recommendations to the General Assembly on programme plans should remain the primary responsibility of the CPC.

The Group encourages CPC members to work together with a constructive approach to agree on recommendations on all programmes in the future and to ensure that they are in line with the mandates generated by Member States.

Chair,

The Group takes note that the CPC was not able to agree on programme 10, Trade and development; programme 11, Environment; and programme 17, Economic development in Europe. As the principal beneficiaries of the technical assistance activities of UNCTAD, we underscore the importance and quality of UNCTAD's technical cooperation.

As developing countries, we continue to face record high levels of unsustainable debt, commodity-dependence, food insecurity, persistent unemployment, increasing inequality and increasing poverty. In this context, the role of UNCTAD remains key in providing policy recommendations and strengthening the capacity of developing countries to address these challenges, as well as in building consensus around efforts to promote national and international strategies and policies conducive to development.

All countries should articulate their efforts to support the work of this entity as it helps developing countries participate more equitably and effectively in the global economy and supports their efforts to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for sustainable development.

Chair,

In conclusion, the Group remains committed to working with you, the Bureau and other delegations to reach a successful outcome for this session.

I thank you.

Excellencies,

2. The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) remain a special case with particular and unique challenges that require targeted support from the international community to enable them to adequately address these challenges and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With only six years remaining until 2030, and with the unique challenges that the LDCs and LLDCs face further hindered by the persistent impacts of the COVID-19, climate change, elevated debt levels, biodiversity loss, disasters, pollution and geopolitical tensions, there is an urgent need for the international community to get back on track in supporting the LDCs and LLDCs.

3. The Group of 77 and China's top priority for the LDCs and LLDCs is to ensure that these groups of countries get the required support to enable them to adequately address their unique needs and challenges. We firmly believe that only through targeted support by the international community can the LDCs and LLDCs build the capacity needed to address these challenges. We therefore reiterate our call to the international community, in particular developed countries, to fulfil their previous commitments as well as announce new commitments to support the LDCs and LLDCs to implement targeted policies and measures to address their unique challenges and accelerate their efforts to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions.

4. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs, and the Gaborone Programme for the LLDCs provide frameworks for the international community to address the unique challenges of these groups of countries whose full and timely implementation the international community must prioritize. To accelerate progress towards the full implementation of Agenda 2030, the Doha Programme of Action, and the Gaborone Programme of Action, the G77 and China calls for enhanced global partnership and strong political support. We specifically call upon the international community, in particular developed countries, to provide and mobilize adequate means of implementation to support the LDCs and LLDCs to accelerate their efforts to implement the Agenda 2030 and both Programmes of Action, which are an integral part of the Agenda 2030. We emphasize that the support provided by the international community to the LDCs and LLDCs must be in line with their national and regional needs and priorities.

5. Financing for development remains at the top of our agenda. Ensuring that the LDCs and LLDCs have the required fiscal and policy space to address their unique challenges should be our priority and we support the calls for long-term finance to the LDCs and LLDCs. We also call for a significant increase in grant finance. We fully support the urgent reform of the international financial architecture to address the needs of all developing countries. In addition, the G77 and China recognizes the importance of an inclusive and equitable international tax system. Therefore, we support the ongoing efforts on the promotion of an inclusive and effective international cooperation on tax matters at the United Nations, including the development of the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.

6. Addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, disasters, pollution remains a priority for the G77 and China in supporting LDCs and LLDCs to build the capacity to adequately respond to these challenges. We are committed to supporting specific actions to address these challenges in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Excellencies,

7. The third UN Conference on LLDCs and the Midterm Review of implementation of the Doha Programme of Action for LDCs scheduled in Botswana in December 2024 and the State of Qatar in 2026, respectively, is a unique opportunity for the international community to show solidarity and support the LLDCs and LDCs. It is the Group's hope that this solidarity and support will enable the full implementation of the five priority areas of action in the Gaborone Programme of Action and the 6 key focus areas of action in the Doha Programme of Action. We look forward to actively participating in the 3rd UN Conference on LLDCs and Midterm Review of implementation of the Doha Programme of Action.

8. Finally, the Group reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the LDCs and LLDCs and remains committed to supporting the full implementation of their respective Programmes of Action within the framework of South-South Cooperation.

I thank you.

2. The Group wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to the Governments of Ethiopia and Chile, the host countries of ECA and ECLAC for their continued support in facilitating the implementation of the relevant construction projects. The Group reiterates the importance of close cooperation between the Organization and these host countries, and we trust that the Secretary-General will continue to take steps to engage the local Governments to ensure the success of the project.

3. Regarding ECLAC, the Group takes note of the sixth progress report on the construction project for the renovation of the North Building at ECLAC in Santiago which is expected to be the first "net-zero" building within the United Nations system.

4. The Group welcomes the advances in the construction phase, with a projected substantial completion of the project by the end of 2024. We note that no additional funding is required for the completion of the remaining project stages and that the project team will be continued for a limited duration in 2025 to ensure the smooth implementation of the handover and commissioning activities.

Madam Chair,

5. Turning to ECA, the Group notes with appreciation the contributions of the Government of Ethiopia including the donation of land to be used by the visitor's center of the Africa Hall. The completion of this center is critical in preserving and restoring the historical and cultural values of African history. The Group also appreciates the Governments of Mali, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy for their financial and in-kind contributions and pledges. We look forward to additional voluntary contributions to support the project from other Member States.

6. The Group welcomes that the inauguration of the Africa Hall is scheduled to take place from 21 to 24 October 2024. This is a milestone which cements the fact that the Africa Hall will continue to be a symbol of hope and aspirations of the African people and a showcase to exhibit how far they have come in their uphill struggle to overcome their challenges and the magnificent cultures and heritage they have managed to conserve.

7. Finally, the Group notes that no outstanding major contractual requirements are foreseen over and beyond those in the close-out phase and minimum resources will be required for the project management team to be continued until September 2025, and in supporting the dedicated project team during the rectification of defects and close out.

I thank you.