Co-Chairs,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. The Group wishes to thank the Co-Chairs, the facilitators and the secretariat for their work to present to Parties the compilation text, as well as the document containing the facilitators' bridging proposals. We are very grateful for these tireless efforts throughout the duration of the ADP.

3. The ADP has been engaged in sensitive and complex negotiations since the work was launched in Durban. The Group of 77 and China, therefore, welcomes the progress that has been achieved. However, the output of the ADP could have taken us closer to the expected outcome in terms of the progress needed at this critical time. The Group had hoped that our work would have been further advanced at this point to put us in a position to forward a streamlined text to Ministers with clear options for political decision making.

4. At this important point in the negotiations, the Group of 77 and China wishes to reiterate its commitment to a fair and ambitious outcome of the ADP here in Paris on both pre-2020 ambition of actions and support, as well as the post-2020 agreement. We are ready to negotiate and work as fast as possible on the basis of the text containing the facilitators' bridging proposals. At this historic moment, where all Parties will take a significant step forward in the fight against climate change, we must remain focused on what we agreed in Durban.

5. The Group of 77 and China wishes to re-emphasise its position that the Paris outcome must be under the Convention and in accordance with its principles and provisions and must not rewrite or reinterpret the Convention. The core elements mandated by the Durban decision (mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity-building and transparency of action and support), as well as loss and damage and response measures must be addressed in a comprehensive and balanced manner, both in the agreement and in the COP decisions. Adaptation and mitigation must receive the same priority. These must be supported by finance, technology development and transfer and capacity-building on a scale that matches the level of action required to achieve the objective of the Convention as set out in Article 2 of the Convention.

6. We believe that we have come a long way and we have a text to take forward for further work by the COP. We realise, however, that much more work needs to be done in the next week to fulfil the mandate from Durban.

7. As we prepare ourselves for the task that lies ahead next week, we should be reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela, who passed away two years ago on this day, that "it always seems impossible until it's done".

8. The Group of 77 and China appreciates the efforts of all Parties to work towards a strong and consensus-based outcome here in Paris, both on closing the pre-2020 ambition gap, as well as concluding a fair and ambitious agreement for the post-2020 period.

9. The Group continues to believe that such an outcome is possible here in Paris. We have been engaged in these negotiations in a disciplined manner and we have made many constructive proposals. We call on our partners to listen to our concerns and work with us to find solutions to all the outstanding issues.

Finally, Co-Chairs,

10. As we move forward, it will stand us in good stead if we take on board the valuable process lessons that we have heard over the course of the ADP process. We cannot afford to lose any more time here in Paris, particularly in having protracted discussions on process.

I thank you.