Distinguished Presidents, Excellencies,

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

2. Let me, at the outset, express our continued appreciation for this effort to enhance synergies and coherence in the work of the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and their respective subsidiary bodies, as well as the related high-level forums aligned, in particular, with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. These synergies are critically important, especially in the current global climate.

3. Today, we are five years away from the very ambitious goals we collectively set out in the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. However, implementation to date has been extremely underwhelming, and this reflects poorly on us as a global community. Once again, we risk falling short because we fail to come together as one global family to ensure we fulfill our part in making this world a better place-not for the few, but for all.

4. This year, as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of this august organization, the United Nations, let us use this time to reflect deeply on where we are falling short, what lessons we can build upon, and how we can mobilize ourselves to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the implementation of its SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, among other critical frameworks and instruments.

5. Mr. Presidents, last year in the General Assembly, we adopted several key documents, such as the Pact for the Future, the Digital Compact, and the QCPR, to name a few. These documents aim to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. It is, therefore, imperative that this year, through the collaboration of your two main bodies, we begin the steep uphill climb to ensure we deliver on our aspirations and commitments.

6. Excellencies, today more than ever, we need to address and overcome global challenges with enhanced unity, solidarity, renewed multilateral cooperation, and a collective global response. Thus, it is crucial for ECOSOC to step up its role as the parent body for UN entities, as well as for key follow-up processes. We need all hands-on deck, and we must work together to prioritize action. We must fulfill our pledges and commitments, for many within our Group do not have the luxury of time, and urgent action is their only option for survival.

7. We look forward to the forthcoming processes already earmarked for this year, particularly the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, the Second World Summit for Social Development, and the High-Level Political Forum. These processes must go beyond words on paper and ambitions that look good but fail to deliver. They must have the highest ambition, which we intend to urgently implement, especially when it comes to the financial means of implementation, with developed countries taking the lead and delivering on their commitments. We face a $4.3 trillion gap in financing the SDGs and a $1.5 trillion gap in financing climate action. Therefore, we need to:

        a) Implement commitments on ODA,
        b) Take urgent action on debt relief and restructuring,
        c) Scale up grant-based and concessional financing,
        d) Re-channel 50% of the 2021 allocation of SDRs, and
        e) Provide generous financial and other assistance to countries impacted by climate change.

8. The Group is committed to engaging constructively and actively in all these important events, and we also look forward to working with our developed partners and the UN system to accelerate our work and deliver the level of action required. In doing so, we need to pay particular attention to countries in special situations, such as the LDCs, SIDS, LLDCs, and Africa, as well as the challenges of MICs. In this regard, their programs of action and specific development initiatives must be implemented, as they are tailored to meet their unique and specific situations. It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable development.

9. Finally, the Group of 77 and China remains committed to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of the General Assembly and ECOSOC. We stand ready to work together to enhance their coherence and effectiveness. We wish to assure you, Presidents, that we will continue to engage in these efforts in a positive and constructive manner.

I thank you.