Distinguished Co-facilitators, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, the group expresses its appreciations to the Co-facilitators for convening this second informal meeting.

The Group of 77 and China regrets that the elements paper distributed through a letter by the esteemed co-facilitators on 28 February 2024, did not include the position of the Group as expressed during the informal consultations held on 15 February 2024. The group cannot go along with element paper as it does not reflect the position of 134 countries.

In light of the above, the group reiterates its positions as follows:

1. The 2021 review process that resulted into the adoption of the distinct resolutions 75/290 A and 75/290 B was substantiative and more time is required to fully implement the provisions contained therein the two resolutions. The provisions in resolutions 75/290 A and 75/290 B remain relevant and should be maintained to support the ESOSOC and HLPF to fully implement their respective mandates. The group would like to highlight that the current arrangement should be maintained especially that only two years have elapsed since the beginning of the implementation of the aforementioned resolutions.

2. The 2024 review process should be limited to technically update the two resolutions, while focusing on the annual themes for ECOSOC and HLPF for 2025-2027 to follow the four-year cycle (2024-2027) for the HLPF as well as the set of SDGs for in-depth review annually. It is critical that these themes advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the time left.

3. Any discussions regarding the 2024 review process should be based on these two resolutions as the starting point to the aforementioned technical update, while respecting the mandates for ECOSOC and HLPF in two separate resolutions as was the case in 2021. The group stresses that this review process can not restart drafting any resolutions from scratch.

The group is of the view that efforts should be made to fully implement all the provisions contained therein resolutions 75/290 A and 75/290 B to ensure coordination and coherence. We believe that the provisions of resolutions 75/290 A and 75/290/B as agreed in 2021 adequately support the ECOSOC and HLPF in the coordinated follow up and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We therefore reiterate our position that the 2024 review process should only be a technical update of the abovementioned resolutions.

The group also recognizes that the intergovernmental process of the Pact for the Future is also discussing in its Chapter 3 a sub item on "Strengthening of ECOSOC". In this regard, the group considers that duplication of discussion should be avoided and request more clarity on how the current process will interact with that of the Pact for the Future.

Finally, the group looks forward to the zero draft that takes into consideration its position on the review process. The group remains committed to constructively engage in this review process to achieve a consensual outcome. The group once again urges the Co- facilitators to take into account several intergovernmental processes currently ongoing at the UN as you plan for the subsequent consultations.

I thank you.