Your Excellency, President of the General Assembly Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

I have the honor to deliver this explanation of position on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, I would like to express deep appreciation of the G77 and China to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for hosting the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States held from 27-30 May 2024. We also commend the Conference Preparatory Committee bureau members led by Co-Chairs, the Permanent Representatives of Maldives and New Zealand for their valued contributions in preparing for the conference. Furthermore, we extend our gratitude to the delegation of Samoa for negotiating the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) just adopted by the General Assembly on behalf of G77 and China.

Excellencies,

The UN General Assembly is adopting "The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity" at a critical time, when the SIDS continue to face unrelenting and compounding impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, disasters and natural hazards, health and other social related challenges and economic vulnerabilities as well as the progressive deterioration in their ability to withstand external shocks and enhance their resilience. The distinct nature and unique vulnerabilities of the SIDS undermine their national efforts to achieve sustainable development, making the SIDS a special case that requires targeted support from the international community to enable them address these vulnerabilities and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 
Excellencies,

The full implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) remains critical for the SIDS in their national efforts towards achieving resilient prosperity. This implementation coincides with the remaining six years for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, this calls for enhanced global partnership for development, adequate provision and mobilization of all means of implementation and continued international support to the SIDS to fully implement the ABAS. We therefore urge the international community, in particular the developed countries to provide the required means of implementation to the SIDS in this regard.

Excellencies,

The Small Island Developing States like other developing countries continue to face an increasing financing gap and urgent actions must be undertaken to address this financing gap and increasing debt burden if the SIDS are to build economic resilience. We therefore call for urgent reform of the international financial architecture to make it more fit for purpose and to respond to the needs of the SIDS by facilitating easier access to affordable and concessional finance. It is important that all the support provided by the international community to the SIDS must be in line with their national and regional priorities.

Excellencies,

Finally, the G77 and China reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the Small Island Developing States and remains committed to support the timely and full implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS within the framework of South-South Cooperation. We emphasize that developed countries have the obligation and commitment of assisting developing countries in meeting their development objectives and urge developed countries to fulfil all previous and new commitments.

I thank you.