Mr Chairman,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on assuming your role as Chairman of the Second Committee. We trust that through your leadership and guidance, the Second Committee will be in a position to carry out its work efficiently in order to conclude its work-plan within the stipulated deadlines. In this regard, we assure you of our full cooperation. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all members who have been elected to serve in the Bureau. It is our hope that we will all work together for the benefit of all our people. This development we all talk vociferously about must be meaningful and tangible to all humanity the world over, particularly to the developing countries.

Mr Chairman,

The Group is ready as always to negotiate with our development partners. We do value their cooperation and support in negotiations of the Second Committee and indeed of the overall United Nations system. Hard work lies ahead of us and we thus look forward to a cooperative and constructive engagement with our partners to ensure that we reap the desired fruits in making sustainable development a reality for all humanity, so that , no one should be left behind.

Mr Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China is by and large satisfied with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda that was adopted at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2015 even though there are outstanding issues that still need our immediate attention, going forward, in order to make sustainable development accessible to all humanity. Similarly, the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" that was recently adopted by world leaders is a reflection of our global aspirations for the next fifteen (15) years and therefore, a global blueprint to guide sustainable development.

As we are all aware, at the heart of the 2030 Agenda, is a set of seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and one-hundred-and-sixty-nine (169) associated targets, which build on the foundation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and has as its core objective, the irreversible eradication of poverty everywhere in all its forms and dimensions, which is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. These SDGs also represent an ambitious plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. Indeed, while working on the implementation of the Agenda, national policy space and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) between developed and developing countries must be maintained.

Furthermore, this new agenda has set out a new spirit and basis for development cooperation and interaction with development partners. Countries are also charged with responsibilities to take actions to ensure that this programme is of success and bring benefits in the development aspirations of all countries.
  
It is therefore critical that the work of the Second Committee builds on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Although these processes are interrelated, they remain separate and distinct. The Means of Implementation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development cannot be a substitute for, nor be replaced by, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Rather, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda supports and complement the Means of Implementation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development contained in Goal Seventeen (17) and in each specific SDGs. The Second Committee should therefore, strive to lay the foundation for the implementation of the commitments that have resulted from these two processes.

In addition, the Group would like to re-affirm that an enhanced means of implementation will be critical for the realisation of the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". Our unwavering commitment to this Agenda would make a huge impact in bridging global economic disparities and inequalities that continue to characterize the current world economic system. Adequate financing and resources are therefore still needed, and these are areas where developed countries should demonstrate leadership and unequivocal commitment, in order to assist all of us to finally eradicate unemployment, inequality and poverty in all its forms. The Group would thus like to reiterate that North-South Cooperation still lies at the core of the global partnership for development. South-South Cooperation, Triangular Cooperation and the private sector are complements, rather than substitutes, thereof.

Mr Chairman,

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development brings about a paradigm shift that places productive sectors in the heart of the global community development agenda. The international community, including the UN development system, needs to adapt to this reality. Therefore, we need to pay due attention to the economic dimension of the agenda, including in terms of employment, industrialization and infrastructure development.

Productive employment and decent work are essential elements in achieving the eradication of poverty in all its forms and in bringing to an end a global scourge of inequality. Achieving the former also brings about the respect for human dignity. Employment objectives need to become central to global actions and mechanisms. Therefore, actions which give priority to productive employment creation and dignified livelihoods, especially for the youth, are of the utmost importance to the Group 77 and China.

The Group is of the view that job growth requires a structural transformation of economies through industrialisation. It is our firm view that support to developing countries in this front, particularly in terms of human and technological capacity development and innovation-led knowledge, is much needed for us to achieve a structural transformation of economies of developing countries through industrialization that induces, inter alia, value addition and economic diversification.

Mr Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China would like to also reiterate the importance of recognizing the diverse needs and challenges faced by countries in special situations, in particular African countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the specific challenges facing Middle-Income Countries (MICs), as well as challenges faced by countries affected by terrorism and unilateral economic coercive measures. Countries in conflict and post-conflict situations also need special attention. The Group re-affirms the importance to respect the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination of peoples living under colonial or foreign occupation and other forms of alien domination, which adversely affects their social and economic development.

The Group would also like to re-affirm the importance of the respect for the independence of States, national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal affairs.

Mr Chairman,

Furthermore, the Group believes that it cannot be overemphasized that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Its adverse impacts undermine the ability of countries, especially developing ones, to achieve sustainable development. It is our only hope that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) taking place in Paris later this year, will yield an ambitious climate agreement.

The Group of 77 and China is of the view that discussions on climate change should be placed within the proper context of sustainable development. It is imperative that our discussion reinforces the promotion of sustainable development, highlighting the three pillars - economic development, social development and environmental protection - and the need to promote all three in an integrated, coordinated and balanced manner.

We must not lose sight of the fact that climate change is a sustainable development challenge. As such we should adhere steadfastly to the Rio principles, in particular the principle of CBDR. We must take fully into account that poverty eradication, economic and social development are the paramount priorities of developing countries. Hence, we must ensure that the discussion on climate change is placed in its proper context so that it does not undermine the overall discourse on sustainable development.

Urgent action is particularly needed on commitments, as climate change threatens the livelihoods of the very poor and vulnerable developing countries, in particular African countries, the LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS, and disaster prone developing countries. The Group of 77 and China is of the view that while addressing the challenge of climate, the most affected countries and most vulnerable countries should be given adequate attention and support. Our work on addressing the challenges to sustainable development, will certainly be boosted with strong commitments on addressing climate change.

Mr Chairman,

The Group would like to acknowledge the upcoming 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be held for the first time in Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya from 15 to 18 December 2015, since the inception in 1995 of this inter-governmental organization, which regulates international trade. The international community is urged to work tirelessly to conclude the Doha Development Round of negotiations and give priority to issues that address the imbalances and inequities of the current global trading system by agreeing on legally binding outcomes that will allow developing countries to effectively engage in equitable global trade.

Mr Chairman,

In conclusion, the Second Committee will deal with a diverse range of agenda items including operational activities for development; sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and other development issues. We trust that we are all up to the task to engage on these issues as they are crucial in advancing our development objectives. We need to make our pledge to leave no one behind a reality. Let us all make this session a fruitful one by ensuring that poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions is at the centre of our work.

I thank you.