Madame President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of G-77 and China. The Group would like to thank, through you, the Secretary-General for his report on this particular subject.

At the outset, as emphasized in the Secretary-General's report, we must be reminded about the grave impact of the current crises on developing countries. We must recognize that the number of people living in poverty is higher than previously estimated, despite significant progress in achieving poverty eradication. The financial and economic crisis coupled with other mounting challenges, such as food and energy crises, climate change, and a high prevalence of pandemic diseases all pose serious consequences for the developing world's achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

Against this background, in responding to these challenges and to sustain efforts to eradicate poverty, we must not waiver in our commitment to sustainable development and its three pillars of economic and social development while protecting the environment. These should remain pivotal elements of UN activities in support of developing countries.

Madame President,

This year's segment will discuss the role of the UN in implementing the ministerial declaration of last year's High-level Segment of ECOSOC, which dealt with sustainable development.

The Group would also wish to emphasize the important outcome of the seventeenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17) which highlighted policy options on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa.

These are the very issues that are at the heart of the Group's development concerns which have unfortunately received less attention in the past few years.

The Group would like to underline the importance of ensuring a coherent and integrated approach in last year's ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration with the outcome of CSD-17, so as to avoid any fragmentation in implementation.

Madame President,

An enabling environment consisting of adequate financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building should consistently support developing countries' efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals.

New and additional financial resources are required for meeting our challenges. Increased financial resources for the UN system are crucial. These resources should be directed to core budgets; setting up particular funds for each and every area of work should be decided with the utmost discretion, since the pulverization of funds and governing bodies is not in the interest of the membership.

The work of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies should, as always, be consistent with their respective mandates, and should respond in full to requests of recipient states to build their capacity to formulate and implement sustainable development policies.

A significant portion of the challenge to achieving sustainable development is acquiring cost-effective, affordable, environmentally sound technologies. Transfer of environmentally sound technologies is a key element of the Ministerial Declaration and is recognized as particularly crucial in combating climate change, as well as addressing food and energy issues.

Madame President,

The UN system has improved coordination through various mechanisms, in particular the Chief Executives Board (CEB) and others in thematic areas of sustainable development. This should always to respond the need and priorities of developing countries. All Member States must always be kept informed and consulted to those activities of such initiatives. This is most important for developing countries, whose development efforts are to be supported by the UN. Better intergovernmental oversight and accountability are required. In this regard, we welcome the dialogue with the CEB during this coordination segment. We should also recall the role of the Commission on Sustainable Development, which serves as the forum for consideration of all issues related to the integration of the three dimensions - social, economic and environmental - of sustainable development.

The Group reiterates its view of the importance of ECOSOC in guiding system-wide coordination of UN activities and programmes in the economic and social fields. At this juncture, we would also reiterate the importance of existing, intergovernmentally agreed mandates on coordination of the UN System's development activities, including General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 57/270B and 61/16, all of which underscore the role of ECOSOC in guiding system-wide coordination.

Madame President,

These are issues that lie at the core of sustainable development, and most importantly these are issues critical to G-77.

In closing, allow me to reiterate the Group's call for the UN System to play a greater role in supporting countries to pursue sustainable development. The UN System should ensure that implementation of the Ministerial Declaration be carried out for the benefit of programme countries and in accordance with their own national policies and priorities for development and respect for their sovereign rights.

I thank you.