Chairperson,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 23: Operational activities for development and its sub items.

At the outset, the Group of 77 and China would like to commend the presenters for the presentations of the reports. The Group notes the Secretary- General's reports contained in documents A/79/72/Add.2 and A/79/230.

Excellencies,

The Group of 77 and China emphasizes the critical role that the United Nations development system plays in advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in programme countries. We reaffirm our long standing position that the United Nations development system, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator System should continue to focus on sustainable development.

Excellencies,

The Group emphasizes that the operational activities of the UN development system must be adequately funded in a more stable, flexible, predictable and sustainable manner, and if necessary, through the UN regular budget. The Group notes with deep concern that the funding of development activities, particularly the core funding continue to drop yearly hence creating unpredictability in funding of the operational activities for development. This declining level of funding constrains the UN development system's ability to provide the necessary support to developing countries to rescue the achievement of the SDGs whose progression in developing countries remains lagging.

In this regard, the group reiterates its call to developed countries to fulfil their commitments and obligations to fund the operational activities for development. We also reiterate our call to the Resident Coordinator system to ensure that the skillsets are matched with the national needs and priorities of the programme countries.

Excellencies,

The Group reaffirms its long standing position that the United Nations development system support to programme countries should be in line with their national priorities and needs. We call on the UN development system to continue to support countries, upon their request, in the implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this context, the Group will submit the draft resolution on the 2024 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) with actions to strengthen the UN development system to deliver results on the ground to support developing countries in pursuit of their respective national development priorities as well as accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of SDGs in the remaining six years.

Excellencies,

We reaffirm that South-South Cooperation and its agenda have to be set by the countries of the South. We also reaffirm that South-South Cooperation is not a substitute for, but rather a complement to, North-South Cooperation. South-South cooperation should continue to be guided by the principles of respect for national sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality, non-interference in domestic affairs and mutual benefits.

South-South cooperation should be further integrated into the planning and work of the entities of the United Nations Development System. The support by the UN System for strengthening of South-South cooperation should be enhanced, including through building and improving institutional capacity in developing countries on South-South cooperation. For its turn, the Group will continue to work towards the further strengthening South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation given its contribution in the achievement of sustainable development in its three dimensions in line with the decisions agreed at the Summits of the G77 and China, including the Third South Summit held in Kampala, Uganda.

In conclusion, the G77 and China will engage actively and constructively in the discussions and negotiations of the 2024 QCPR resolution to effectively guide the UN development system and Resident Coordinator System for the next years. We also will engage actively and constructively in the discussions and negotiations of the South-South Cooperation resolution, with a view to strengthen the role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation within the United Nations development system.

I thank you.