Mr Chairman;

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The Group of 77 and China would like to thank you and the Bureau for ably conducting the business of the Second Committee in this 70th Session of the General Assembly.

Mr Chairman;

The Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate that North-South Cooperation still lies at the core of the global partnership for development and remains of paramount importance.

Mr Chairman;

The Group would like to reiterate that 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 the actions towards sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda will provide all of us with guidance in terms of our work on the operational activities for development, particularly in addressing Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) and South-South Cooperation, in an efficient and effective manner. The Group of 77 and China will be tabling two substantive resolutions to speak to these issues. These Resolutions urge the United Nations Development System for a scaled up and significantly strengthened role for the United Nations' operational activities for development and its capacity to assist developing countries in achieving their developmental goals.

The Group of 77 and China is of the view that the United Nations Funds, Programmes and Agencies should incorporate the 2030 Agenda

Furthermore, the 2012-2016 QCPR is about to come to an end. The Group of 77 and China is ready to negotiate in good faith, as always, with our development partners to ensure that the next QCPR is more focused and ready to strengthen the UN Development System role in meeting the objectives and aspirations of the 2030 Agenda.

Mr Chairman;

The effectiveness of the work of the UN Development System at the national level requires proper coordination. Improvement in this area can be achieved by strengthening the role of the resident coordinators and the humanitarian coordinators in each country, following the leadership of national governments.

A stronger coordination on the ground, along with enhanced exchange of experiences among UN agencies that are undertaking the implementation and evaluation of operational activities, based on agreed strategic plans, is critical to achieve greater support of the UN Development System to national efforts in the context of the 2030 Agenda.

Furthermore, the active and full participation of national governments in the monitoring and evaluation related to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) must be reinforced. Their leadership in these processes is the basis for appropriate implementation of sustainable development objectives and for ensuring the alignment with national priorities and capabilities.

Mr Chairman;

As we are all aware, later this month there will be the next phase of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) dialogues on the longer-term positioning of the United Nations Development System, in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the Operational Activities Segment. We look forward to these discussions in view of the next QCPR. We trust that recommendations to emanate from this process will assist in making the next QCPR more effective and efficient in assisting programme countries to eradicate poverty in all its forms.

It has been agreed in Resolution 67/226, on the QCPR, that poverty eradication should be considered the highest priority and the fundamental objective of the United Nations Development System. The operational activities for development, has a fundamental role fulfilling this task.

Mr Chairman;

Poverty eradication in all its forms cannot be attained without sustainable economic transformation. Likewise, economic and social transformation cannot be achieved without a specific emphasis on education, industrialization, job creation and infrastructure development. Social transformation cannot be achieved without strengthen the governments institutional capacities to provide basic public services. It is fitting that these issues are adequately captured in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The United Nations Funds, Programmes and Agencies need to as a matter of urgency, provide all Member States a comprehensive update detailing concrete steps taken to eradicate poverty since the adoption of the QCPR resolution in 2012, during this 70th Session of the General Assembly. We believe that this would assist in plugging the gaps, identifying actions needed to strengthen the UN Development System and providing the necessary tools to make the next QCPR a far-reaching and effective assessment of the system-wide coherence and impact of UN operational activities for development. Furthermore, the Group of 77 and China is of the view that the United Nations Funds, Programmes and Agencies should incorporate the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. Chairman;

Sustaining the achievement of internationally agreed development goals entails adequate, stable, predictable and untied financing. The perennial challenge of the imbalance between core and non-core resources remains a matter of concern. According to the Secretary-General Report A/70/62, the ratio of core contributions to United Nations operational activities for development currently stands at 28%. The imbalance between core and non-core resources needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency as it undermines the ability of the United Nations Development System to adequately fulfill its mandate. This imbalance also continues to cause the fragmentation of contributions as it seeks to satisfy the interests of donors. Another problem in point is that non-core resources by their nature compete against themselves and therefore end up undermining the developmental needs and objectives of programme countries, which are in the main developing countries.

Mr Chairman;

Allow me please to state the following remarks about South-South Cooperation for development. The Group would like to reiterate that South-South Cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries of the South that contributes to their national well-being, national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs and SDGs.

And in this regard, as mentioned in the Nairobi Outcome document, South-South Cooperation and its agenda have to be set by countries of the South and should continue to be guided by the principles of respect for national sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality, non-interference in domestic affairs and mutual benefit. At the same time, we reiterate that South-South cooperation is not a substitute for, but rather a complement to, North-South Cooperation. The Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate that North-South Cooperation still lies at the core of the global partnership for development and remains of paramount in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Mr Chairman;

The Group of 77 and China recalls the mandate derived from resolution 67/226 to strengthen South-South Cooperation and notes paragraph 76 of the Secretary-General's report A/70/344, which acknowledges that "the current work of United Nations organizations to develop thematic strategies for the implementation of South-South Cooperation is a positive development." The Group recognizes the important role of South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation to enhance the capacity of developing countries in implementing the SDGs.

However, the Group of 77 and China seeks to be further updated about the recommendations of Secretary-General's Report aiming to improve the system-wide governance, focus, coherence and coordination of South-South Cooperation within the UN Development System, in order to maximize its developmental impact. This impact is an important barometer to gauge progress and what needs to be borne in mind in order to discharge better programming by the UN Development System. Any programming therefore, needs to be relevant to local conditions and realities. A one-size-fits all approach needs to be thus avoided.

The Group is of the view that this is also an opportune time to maximize the potential of South-South Cooperation in view of the 2030 Agenda and as we move towards negotiations of the next QCPR, with due recognition of the Nairobi Outcome Document principles.

Mr Chairman;

Pursuant to the General Assembly resolution of 69/239, the Group of 77 and China would like to, inter alia, reiterate the following:

- Call for the further strengthening of the Office for South-South Cooperation before a decision is taken on the long-standing request to separate the Office for South-South Cooperation from the UNDP.

- The Group would like to find out the rationale for the preference of the Secretary-General on strengthening the Office of South-South Cooperation under the auspices of the UNDP. We need to understand what informed this rationale in order for Member States to assess what this entails in terms of strengthening the capacity of this Office as we start to align our work with the 2030 Agenda.

The Office for South-South Cooperation needs to be duly strengthened through human resources, financial and budgetary means to ensure that it carries out its mandate, as appropriate. Without these it will end up being rendered redundant and as such incapable of making requisite contributions it is expected to do in terms of the principles espoused under the Nairobi Outcome Document. These will require the necessary financing to address these questions.

Mr Chairman;

We believe that these remarks will go a long way in strengthening and improving the United Nations Development System. This is what all of us should strive for. There is therefore, a need to work together and to have the plight of the poor in our minds, as poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions should be the rationale that drives our work.

I thank you.