Co-Facilitators;
Ladies and gentlemen:

Let me take this opportunity to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

1. This General Statement is delivered based on the Position Paper that the Group has already submitted to the Co-Facilitators.

2. The G77 and China would like to thank and express its appreciation for the work of Barbados and Malta, in the formulation of the draft Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance.

3. The G77 and China also thanks the Co-Facilitators and their team, for considering and taking into account the elements of the Position Paper presented by the Group.

4. We underline that more time is needed by the Group to provide detailed and in-depth inputs to the draft Political Declaration. We take note that there are paragraphs that contain new language, requiring further deliberations within the Group. In this regard, the Group wishes to also inform that a preliminary coordination had taken place highlighting the overview position of the Group to the current draft Political Declaration.

5. We underscore that the draft Political Declaration has recognized the large and disproportionate burden felt by developing countries, due to antimicrobial resistance. However, the Group observes that within the commitments presented by the Co-Facilitators, more elements are needed to be strengthened.

6. In this regard, the Group believes that greater focus and attention must be given to emphasize the "means of implementation" needed in supporting developing countries, in their fight against antimicrobial resistance as highlighted below:

- Support to developing countries must be showcased, among others, through capacity-building, technology transfer and know-how and technical assistance, as well as cooperation.

- Affordability and equity in access to existing and new antimicrobial medicines, therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics - including supplies and reagents - to developing countries should also be included as a global priority.

- Adequate, predictable, and sustained funding as well as technical and financial resources and investment must be mobilized to support developing countries.

- International collaboration, in this regard, must be strengthened to support the implementation of multi-sectoral national action plans on AMR; to provide sustained technical and financial investment in research, laboratories and regulatory capacities and in professional education and training.

- Furthermore, the Group is resolved that national action plans on AMR in countries must include the development and strengthening of effective surveillance, monitoring and regulatory frameworks on the preservation, use and sale of antimicrobial medicines for humans and animals. This must be enforced in accordance with national contexts and consistent with international commitments.

Co-Facilitators,

The Group remains committed to engage constructively in the work of formulating a consensual, concise, action-oriented Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024. With this in mind, the Group will deliver a written comment to the draft Political Declaration - soon following the conclusion of the group's coordination.

I thank you