The Group thanks the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Ms. Juliana Gaspar Ruas, for introducing their respective reports.

The Group reaffirms the central role of a reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system within the repositioned United Nations development system. Effective coordination is essential to aligning United Nations capacities with national priorities, facilitating access to expertise and mobilizing partnerships and resources for sustainable development. Its value must ultimately be measured by the support it provides to programme countries in advancing towards the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions. The Group also underscores the importance of equitable geographical representation among Resident Coordinators and other staff within the system.

National ownership and leadership must remain at the centre of these efforts. The United Nations development system must respond to the priorities identified by programme countries, in full consultation with their Governments and in accordance with nationally agreed cooperation frameworks. Adjustments to coordination arrangements should strengthen national capacities and the ability of countries to draw upon the collective expertise of the United Nations system.

The Group underscores that there can be no one-size-fits-all approach. Coordination capacities must reflect the diverse needs, circumstances and development challenges of programme countries. Particular attention must be paid to the specific needs of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, while also addressing the challenges faced by middle-income countries. For countries served by multi-country offices, geographical dispersion and limited access to specialized expertise make responsive and sustained support particularly important.

Mr. Chair,

The Group remains concerned about persistent funding shortfalls and their implications for the continuity and effectiveness of development coordination. We reiterate the importance of providing the adequate tools to the United Nations Development System and its resident coordinator system, in particular the necessary funding to deliver better in support of the needs and priorities of programme countries.

Despite the decline in funding, the Group emphasizes the continuing importance of voluntary funding within the broader financing of the United Nations development system. Any changes to the established hybrid financing model, including the use of assessed contributions, should not diminish the responsibility of major donor countries to sustain and strengthen their support. Efforts to broaden the funding base, including through innovative mechanisms and creative solutions, should complement, rather than substitute for, the fulfilment of these responsibilities. The Group urges developed countries to fully implement their official development assistance commitments. It also urges donor countries and encourages other contributors to maintain and substantially increase their core contributions to the United Nations development system through predictable, sustained and multi-year funding, consistent with the full implementation of the commitments made in the Funding Compact.

Against this background, the Group will examine the proposed funding and governance arrangements in an open, inclusive and comprehensive manner. Our consideration of a revised financing model, country-specific office configurations and strengthened accountability arrangements must be guided by the requirements of effective mandate delivery and the needs of programme countries. Clear and timely information on the proposed reforms, including their operational implications, financial sustainability and expected contribution to results, will be essential to enabling Member States to make informed decisions.

Funding must also be accompanied by transparency, accountability and effective oversight. The Group attaches importance to clearly defined roles and responsibilities at the global, regional and country levels, accountability to programme countries, and transparent reporting on performance, results and the use of resources. In this regard, the relationship between ECOSOC's review of performance and the General Assembly's consideration of resource requirements through the Fifth Committee and other appropriate relevant committees merits particular attention, with a view to strengthening accountability and demonstrable results.

Mr. Chair,

Our shared objective must remain a United Nations development system that provides coherent, reliable and effective support in accordance with national priorities. The Group of 77 and China stands ready to engage constructively in the consideration of these reports, with a view to advancing arrangements that strengthen development coordination, safeguard accountability and serve the long-term interests of programme countries.

I thank you.

G77 and China would like to thank the Government of Türkiye for their hospitality extended and the both the COP President Türkiye and President of Negotiations, Australia for their work in preparation for COP31, with the view towards successful outcomes.

As the science informs us, global impacts from climate change are being experienced now across all our group members, the time has come to move decisively into an era of international cooperation and implementation of the Paris Agreement.

In this context, G77 and China places significant importance on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement. We underscore that meaningful climate action takes into account national circumstances of developing countries and that unlocking the full potential of ambition and implementation must be backed by scaled up means of implementation including finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building according to the diverse national circumstances. Further, we highlight the importance of upholding principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances, as enshrined in the Convention and the Paris Agreement. These principles are not only foundational to the climate regime but are essential to ensuring that developing countries can effectively pursue sustainable development while advancing ambitious climate goals.

Across the foregoing priorities, the G77 and China underscores the importance of inclusivity in this multilateral process, especially counting on the contributions of women, indigenous peoples, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities in ensuring no one is left behind in all spectrum of climate action.

For developing countries, climate action cannot be decoupled from the broader context of poverty eradication, economic development and resilience, and sustainable development Enhanced international support and predictable delivery of commitments are critical to enable transformative sustainable action on the ground.

Finance

The G77 and China is deeply concerned with the insufficiency, inaccessibility and very low availability of climate finance, as well as the lack of accountability by developed country Parties in provision of finance, as well as meeting their commitments under the Convention and the Paris Agreement.

Climate finance resources are at a lowest, and are insufficient to address the evolving needs and priorities of developing countries. The Global Environment Facility's 9th replenishment for 2026-2030 is at a 27% decline from GEF-8 and the lowest we've seen in 16 years. The Green Climate Fund is facing announcements by developed countries, that they will cut its signed contributions for 2024-2027 in half.

Financial support provided by developed countries, in accordance with article 4.3 of the UNFCCC and article 9.1 of Paris Agreement must be commensurate with the needs, and the level of ambition formally announced by developing countries in their respective NDCs recognizing that enhanced, predictable and accessible support is essential to enable developing country Parties to raise ambition and accelerate action across mitigation, adaptation and responses to loss and damage. Developing countries have submitted their NDCs, showing progression over time; however, funding remains insufficient and is in decline. Finance plays a key component under the Convention, and the Paris Agreement. Therefore, the current status in relation to climate finance provided is deeply concerning for the Group.

For G77 and China, at COP31 we need to ensure that outcomes reflect the importance of quantities and quality of finance, as well as public and grant-based finance is at the core of the outcomes in Antalya.

Therefore, the Group stresses the importance of the Climate Finance Work Programme and are committed to seeing successful outcomes on this agenda item.

Further, we need to ensure the Adaptation Fund reaches successful outcomes at COP31. This is of utmost importance to us, developing countries, that Adaptation Fund continue to support developing countries in accessing much needed grant based climate finance for adaptation.

The Group further highlights the need to focus on ambitious replenishment of funds under the Financial Mechanism in line with the NCQG goals on tripling outflows by 2030. This includes the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, and the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation

Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund. This need is heightened by the highly problematic decrease in contributions and failure to reach resource mobilization targets.

Scaling up climate finance in accordance with the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement forms the core of the priorities for the G77 and China. At COP31 we must secure outcomes that enable the provision and mobilisation of finance for developing countries at the necessary scale and quality, while addressing the systemic dis-enablers of climate finance. Additionally, access to finance for all developing countries remains a priority, and it is important that facilitating access to finance to all remains a key for at COP31.

The Group further stresses the importance of the tripling of adaptation finance. Adaptation finance remains a priority for us, and it is important that the missing elements regarding the operationalisation of the goal to triple of adaptation finance is addressed. This includes clarity on the trajectory of developed country Parties' commitment to collectively increase their provision of adaptation finance to developing country Parties.

Scaling up climate finance in accordance with the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement forms the core of the priorities for the G77 and China. At COP31 we must secure outcomes that enable the provision of finance for developing countries at the necessary scale and quality, while addressing the systemic dis-enablers of climate finance.

The G77 and China have concerns regarding the Veredas Dialogue process, particularly its meeting arrangements, and we call for a more inclusive, balanced, transparent and genuinely Party-driven process that fully respects the agreed mandate and safeguards.

Adaptation

The Global Goal on Adaptation remains a core priority for our group. Adaptation is about saving lives, protecting livelihoods and securing sustainable futures for all. The group reaffirms that the principles and provisions of the Convention and the Paris Agreement, in particular equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances, must guide all GGA work, and that every element of the GGA, including means of implementation, deserves equal and balanced attention. Achieving the goal set out in Article 7.1 of the Paris Agreement must remain the foundation of our work.

We welcome the commitment to at least triple adaptation finance by 2035, but commitment is only as good as its delivery. We cannot afford to lose this momentum. COP31 must establish a process to track and ensure its full delivery, and we urge developed country Parties to

increase the trajectory of their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing country Parties.

The Belém Addis Vision should deliver on its mandate, including the policy alignment process and the establishment of the technical task force that is responsive to developing countries' needs. The Baku Adaptation Road Map must stay true to its agreed mandate in paragraph 28 of decision 12/CMA.7, without reinterpretation or new obligations for developing countries. None of this is possible without adequate, predictable, accessible and scaled-up means of implementation, including finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity building, provided by developed country Parties to developing country Parties in line with Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement. Adaptation finance must be new and additional, predominantly grant-based and non-debt-creating. The group looks forward to a balanced and ambitious outcome in Antalya.

National Adaptation Plans remain one of the most important agenda items for our group and a key pillar for advancing adaptation action and support in developing countries. The group reaffirms that formulating and implementing NAPs is central to building adaptive capacity and resilience on the ground, and that both are mutually reinforcing components of the NAP process that deserve equal attention and support.

Many developing countries are still formulating their plans, while others have completed them and are ready to implement but face persistent gaps in finance, technology and capacity- building. Support for NAPs must be simplified, accelerated and scaled up, including through the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund and the Global Environment Facility.

The group comes to Antalya committed to constructive engagement and looks forward to an outcome that closes these gaps, scales up support for NAP implementation, and keeps NAPs firmly on the agenda of the UNFCCC process.

Just transition

On just transition, the Group is clear that our priority at this session must be the operationalization of the Just Transition Mechanism. The process must now translate our extensive dialogue into concrete implementation and support for developing countries. We therefore call for a party-driven Mechanism, accountable to the CMA, with a clear governance and implementation structure capable of identifying developing-country needs and facilitating access to finance, technology and capacity-building, while fostering the adequate support for countries to pursue their nationally determined just transition pathways as well as addressing the barriers and challenges that hinder the development of developing countries. The Mechanism must reflect the comprehensive and multidimensional nature of just transitions,

addressing the realities and priorities of developing countries across sectors and economies, in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. As we undertake the review of the Just Transition Work Programme, its valuable policy and dialogue functions should be preserved and effectively connected with the implementation role of the Mechanism. Our objective at this session should therefore be to advance these two interlinked mandates in a mutually reinforcing manner: delivering meaningful progress on the architecture, functions and timeline for operationalization of the Mechanism, while ensuring an effective review of the Work Programme that complements and supports the operationalization of the Just Transition Mechanism.

Transparency

On transparency, the G77 and China underscores the importance of adequate, predictable and timely financial and technical support, as mandated, to enable all developing country Parties to implement the Enhanced Transparency Framework and build sustainable national reporting systems.

We expect discussions under agenda item 5 of SBI 65 to deliver concrete outcomes at COP31. These should simplify access to financial resources, reduce administrative burdens and accelerate the disbursement of funding.

We note with concern the delays in completing the reporting cycle of the first BTRs, which leave many developing country Parties unable to implement improvements before submitting their next reports. The secretariat must be adequately resourced to support developing country Parties to complete the cycle on time.

Finally, the implementation of the GHG data interface must respect the flexibility provisions of the ETF and the different national circumstances and capacities of developing country Parties.

Capacity building

On matters related to Capacity-Building the G77 and China welcomes the progress achieved at SB64.

At this session, the Group looks forward to a substantive outcome on the 2026 Annual Technical Progress Report of the PCCB and the report of the 15th Durban Forum on Capacity-building. Capacity-building remains an essential means of implementation for developing countries. It must be country-driven, responsive to national circumstances, priorities and needs, and focusing on strengthening long-term individual, institutional and systemic capacities. The

Group emphasizes the need for adequate, predictable and accessible financial, technical and capacity-building support, as well as stronger coherence and coordination among relevant bodies and providers.

Capacity-building should also enable developing countries to access and effectively use climate finance and technology, and translate NDCs and NAPs into implementation.

RSO

The Group of G77 and China underscores the critical importance of research and systematic observation in informing the scientific basis for weather, climate and ocean actions, including mitigation, adaptation, and responding to loss and damage.

We welcome Earth Information Day (EID) as an important opportunity to gain comprehensive insight and enhance understanding on the state of the climate and systematic observations. The Group expects to have a scientifically factual and substantive reaction to EID and the information from specialised organisations.

We emphasise the importance of systematic observation systems in supporting Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), particularly in developing countries; and reiterate the need for equitable access to and sharing of observational data.

We reiterate the urgent need to strengthen Research and Systematic Observation (RSO) capacities and capabilities in developing countries, including through capacity-building, training, technology transfer, and enhanced participation in scientific research. In this regard, we highlight the importance of addressing existing gaps across global, regional, and national observation systems, with a view to ensuring a more equitable and geographically balanced global observation system.

We also highlight the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of observation systems and call upon developed country Parties to provide adequate, predictable and sustained support to relevant initiatives, including the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), in accordance with their obligations under the Convention and the Paris Agreement.

Technology

While all agenda items before us are important, resolving the CTCN host arrangement is particularly urgent. Given the CTCN's new functions, a 'business-as-usual' approach is no longer adequate. The host proposal's baseline budget of $106 million over five years-double the

current allocation-is the absolute minimum. According to IPCC just the capital cost of our mitigation technology needs are between 1.5 and 3 trillion dollars a year. Our ambition needs support to be realized.

The BTIP is a key priority and the PSP remains of fundamental importance. BTIP was established to support the implementation of developing countries' technology priorities in a manner consistent with their national circumstances and needs. We emphasize that the Poznan Strategic Programme (PSP) carries its own forward-looking mandate to support our activities and must inform BTIP implementation. Furthermore, this implementation must receive robust support from the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism and the Adaptation Fund, from developed country Parties and others. This includes the action agenda and presidency initiatives supporting its implementation and the technology mechanism work.

Regarding the Joint Annual Report (JAR), it is critical that we deliver forward-looking guidance to strengthen the Technology Mechanism's delivery, remaining mindful of persistent challenges. This includes the advancement and enhancement of outcomes under BTIP, the success of the Technology Mechanism's new programme of work, strengthened collaboration within and beyond the Convention and providing inputs to the future Global Stocktake on technology development and transfer that assesses the implementation of Article 10 of the Paris Agreement. Finally, we look forward to a successful third independent review."

Loss and Damage

On loss and damage, the Group of 77 and China would like to stress that our lived reality in developing countries is one of escalating climate impacts, including the increasing effects of extreme weather and slow onset events, resulting in mounting economic and non-economic losses and damages. These impacts are intensifying across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and our countries bear the rising costs of addressing the adverse effects of climate change largely on their own, a burden which will grow further as global warming continues.

Our key political message is that adequate support must match urgent need. The Santiago network has received more than 40 requests for technical assistance, yet only five have reached implementation, the ExCom remains underfunded, while requests to the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage exceed its available envelope more than eightfold. There needs to be practical guidance to support developing countries implement their loss and damage actions.

We call on developed countries to fulfil their pledges in full and to provide new, predictable and multi-year financial resources to support the work of the WIM ExCom, the Santiago

network and the Fund in a timely manner to enable these to fully deliver on their respective mandates. In this regard, we expect the decision on the joint annual report of the WIM Executive Committee and the Santiago network to accelerate and scale up the delivery of technical assistance, strengthen access to action and financial support, enhance coordination across the loss and damage architecture, and address and respond effectively to the needs and priorities of developing countries. The Group wishes to stress that financial resources from Developed countries must be new and additional and delivered mainly through grants or other non-debt-creating instruments.

Mitigation

The group reaffirms its commitment to multilateral cooperation as well as party-driven consensus-based progress across agenda items. We reaffirm our continued commitment to contribute to the ultimate objective of the Convention and the goals of the Paris Agreement including the temperature, holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels on the basis of equity and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.

We recognize the need for urgent progress on mitigation, with developed countries taking the lead, adaptation and loss and damage taking into account increasing impact of climate change in our countries, which requires the provision of support from developed countries and an enabling international economic system.

G77 and China invites Parties to engage discussions under the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme in a constructive manner in line with its mandate.

GST

The Group of 77 and China attaches the highest importance to the second global stocktake, which begins at this session, and looks forward to its successful conduct and conclusion over the next two years. In this regard, the Group expects the process to be comprehensive, balanced, transparent, inclusive and Party-driven, in line with Article 14 of the Paris Agreement, decision 19/CMA.1, and decision 3/CMA.7. Effective participation of developing countries should be enabled and requires that each GST2 component be given sufficient time, in particular the consideration of outputs phase, learning from the first global stocktake.

The Group stresses that scientific inputs for GST2 are crucial and such inputs should be drawn from all sources recognized in decision 19/CMA.1 and as further elaborated in decision 3/CMA.7, and reflect regional balance and knowledge produced by developing countries. On the substance, GST2 must assess, in a comprehensive and facilitative manner and in the light of equity and the best available science, our collective progress in the implementation of the Paris Agreement towards its purpose and long-term goals. GST2 must ensure a balanced consideration of mitigation, adaptation, means of implementation, loss and damage, response measures and international cooperation, in the light of equity and the best available science.

With global warming now potentially set to cross and go beyond the 1.5°C threshold, GST2 must confirm the progress made and identify the gaps and opportunities in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, including in the means of implementation needed and provided, as well as address barriers and enablers of implementation, delivery, and advancing international cooperation. It must also ultimately enable enhanced implementation of the Paris Agreement that supports and enhances developing countries' right to sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. Additionally, the Group acknowledges the conduct of the UAE and annual GST dialogues and looks forward to the conduct of the next UAE dialogue in the next sessions.

The Group furthermore stresses the importance of conducting the third Periodic Review under the Convention and therefore looks forward to its continuation.

Gender

On gender and climate change, the G77 and China welcomes the opportunity to advance implementation of the Belém Gender Action Plan 2026-2034 and looks forward to engage on the three reports before us at this session.

For developing countries, effective implementation requires adequate and accessible financial, technical and capacity-building support, responsive to national circumstances and priorities. The reports highlight persistent gaps and barriers related to institutional capacity, meaningful participation, access to resources and the availability and use of relevant information. Addressing these challenges will require greater provision of support and enhanced capacities for Parties and the National Gender and Climate Change Focal Points.

The Group looks forward to an implementation-oriented outcome that draws on the relevant findings of these reports while respecting nationally determined approaches and avoiding prescriptive, one-size-fits-all solutions.

ACE

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms the fundamental relevance of Action for Climate Empowerment in supporting an inclusive, equitable and effective climate response. We stress the need to have sufficient time to advance towards the adoption of an ACE Action Plan, prioritizing constructive engagement and concrete, through the design of achievable activities and deliverables that respond to the needs and national circumstances of developing countries.

We emphasize the need for a whole-of-society approach that is gender-responsive and ensures meaningful participation, while taking into consideration the specific needs of older persons and persons with disabilities.

The Group underscores the importance of strengthening education as a lifelong process, alongside access to information, public awareness, public participation, and capacity-building through international cooperation. We also note the linkages between ACE and Just Transitions, as these elements are relevant to ensuring inclusive and equitable transition pathways.

Finally, the Group emphasizes that an effective and ambitious new Action Plan must be adequately resourced, supported by enhanced means of implementation, including financial support, capacity-building and technology transfer. he G77 and China stands united in its determination to ensure that ACE receives the recognition, attention and support it deserves. We are committed to working constructively with all Parties to translate our shared ambitions into concrete action and meaningful progress.

Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. An estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025 and about 2.1 billion experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. The G77 and China stresses that agriculture and food security are central to efforts to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication. We emphasize the fundamental importance of adaptation and strengthening resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security. Developed countries must provide new, additional, adequate, predictable and accessible finance, particularly grant-based adaptation finance, together with technology development and transfer and capacity-building. The G77 and China looks forward to a substantive and ambitious outcome on the future of agriculture, under the convention, that responds to the priorities and needs of developing countries.

Response Measures

The Group of 77 and China welcomes the third Global Dialogue on response measures in Bangkok, which underscored the importance of economic diversification and transformation and of adequate means of implementation, including finance, technology transfer and capacity-building. We are concerned at the challenges that prevented the timely adoption of the KCI annual report, including its case studies and recommendations.

Our priority at this session is to agree on substantive input on response measures to the second global stocktake, in accordance with decision 19/CMA.1, and to advance the implementation of the workplan of the forum and its KCI, including impact assessments and the assessment of cross-border impacts. We look forward to a meaningful ministerial roundtable.

Trade and Climate

The Group of 77 and China recalls paragraphs 56 and 57 of decision 1/CMA.7, which reaffirm the importance of international cooperation in promoting a supportive and open international economic system that enables sustainable development and climate action, particularly in developing countries. Measures taken to combat climate change, including unilateral ones, should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade

Building on the first Trade and Climate Change Dialogue held in Bonn, the Group reiterates the importance of ensuring a meaningful process. The Group underscores the need for Parties to provide input on the formal reporting by the subsidiary bodies, provide guidance on subsequent dialogues and determine how the final report in 2028 will be prepared." The Group of 77 and China looks forward to working with you to address the climate related challenges. The Group of 77 and China will steadfastly maintain and advance collaboration and active engagement to ensure the success of our collective endeavors towards decisive climate action at this critical juncture.

Thank you

2. The Group thanks the Acting Director of the Office of Programme Planning Finance and Budget, Mr. Yacine Hamzaoui, and the Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Mr. Katlego Boase Mmalane, for introducing the twenty-fourth annual progress report of the Secretary-General and the related report of the Advisory Committee.

3. The Group notes that all construction work and related administrative close-out activities have been completed, except those associated with the remaining arbitration case. We remain concerned that the prolonged proceedings continue to delay the financial closure of the project and generate additional legal expenses.

4. We note that the hearing on the third and final phase has been postponed to December 2026 and that the Secretariat now anticipates a decision in late 2027 or early 2028, while recognizing that its timing rests with the arbitral tribunal. We look forward to receiving updated information during informal consultations on the expected procedural steps and their financial implications.

5. The Group notes the continued efforts of the Office of Legal Affairs, with the assistance of outside counsel, to defend the Organization's interests. We note the reduction in estimated potential liability for the remaining phase from approximately $16 million to $5.6 million, excluding applicable interest and legal costs, and the possibility that counterclaims could offset some or all of that exposure. These developments underscore the importance of continuing to protect the rights and limit the financial liabilities of the United Nations.

Mr. Chair,

6. Nevertheless, the Group shares the Advisory Committee's concern regarding increasing legal expenses. Accumulated expenditure reached approximately $11.64 million as of 30 June 2026, with an additional $830,000 estimated for the remainder of the year. We encourage continued efforts to contain these costs and pursue a timely and cost-effective resolution of the remaining arbitration in the Organization's best interests, in accordance with paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 80/232.

7. The Group notes that the approved funding of approximately $2.15 billion has been fully committed and that, as of 30 June 2026, expenditure exceeded the approved funding by $2.8 million. With no remaining cash balance in the capital master plan fund, further expenses are being met from the regular budget appropriation of the Department of Operational Support. We request a clear and updated account of expenditure, anticipated liabilities and the proposed sources of funding for 2026 and 2027.

8. In this regard, the Group reiterates the importance of respecting the General Assembly's authority over budgetary decisions. We share the Advisory Committee's view that proposals to fund requirements above the maximum overall approved budget should be presented to the Assembly for consideration.

9. We also underline the importance of preserving and applying lessons learned from the capital master plan to ongoing and future construction projects. We note the preparation of updated construction management guidelines and encourage particular attention to project governance, procurement, change-order management, risk assessment and vendor performance, with a view to preventing avoidable disputes and safeguarding the Organization's interests.

10. The Group of 77 and China remains committed to engaging constructively in informal consultations towards the responsible financial closure of the capital master plan, with full regard for transparency, accountability and the prudent use of Member States' resources.

Thank you.