1. At a time of converging global crises including conflict, climate change, hunger, poverty, food insecurity, rising inequalities, declining official development assistance, and rapid technological disruption we echo the Administrator's call to reaffirm development as a fundamental pillar of peace and security. Development must be at the center of all our efforts.

2. The Group welcomes the draft Strategic Plan 2026-2029. Many of the priorities reflect the evolving needs of developing countries and provide a strong and adaptive framework to tackle complex development challenges.

3. We are encouraged by the Plan's broader vision of prosperity as a pathway not only to overcome hunger, poverty, and inequalities, but also to build enduring resilience and human development to prevent relapsing into poverty. Prosperity must be inclusive, sustained, and underpinned by structural transformation.

4. The Group strongly supports the prioritization of digital and AI tools as enablers of development. As underscored by the Administrator, this technological shift must become a driver of inclusion and empowerment, not deepened inequality. We call for targeted investments to close the digital divide, build public sector capacity, and ensure that no country or community is left behind in the digital era.

5. We welcome UNDP's efforts to leverage innovative SDG-aligned financial instruments and mobilize both domestic and international resources. In this context, we stress the urgency of delivering concrete outcomes at the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) to support national financing frameworks and scale up resources for developing countries.

6. We commend UNDP Country Programmes continued emphasis on national ownership and leadership, which are indispensable to address developing countries' specific needs and priorities. Development interventions must be fully aligned with the priorities of programme countries and anchored in the 2024 QCPR.

7. The Group expresses grave concerns regarding the alarming funding situation of the UN development system, and commends UNDP for its significant efforts to diversify the funding basis and address the current funding shortfalls. We reiterate that efficiencies, while critical, should not be achieved at the detriment of programme support at country level.

8. Programme countries continue to demonstrate strong commitment, having contributed nearly a quarter of UNDP's overall funding in 2023. This reflects our shared investment in development cooperation. We reiterate our call to developed countries to increase predictable, flexible, and core funding to enable UNDP to deliver at scale and with agility. The lack of such funding impacts UNDP's ability to deliver on its much needed support to developing countries. The Group reminds developed countries that they have a commitment to assist developing countries meet their development objectives.

9. Securing core funding for development activities is indispensable to achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda, UNDP's Strategic Plan, and to sustain its central role in the reinvigorated development system. The Group reiterates, in this regard, the importance of meeting ODA commitments, which remain crucial for achieving sustainable development and the SDGs.

10. The Group emphasizes that global coordinated efforts are needed to ensure real progress towards the SDGs and the well-being of our populations. Cutting funding for development can have irreparable effects in developing countries.

11. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms its full support for UNDP and remains committed to working closely with all partners in shaping a future of shared prosperity, dignity, and peace. We look forward to engaging constructively with the new leadership and the Executive Board in delivering the goals of the Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

At the outset, allow me to extend to you, Mr. Chair, congratulation on your assumption as Chair of the Second Committee, and through you to extend our thanks and appreciation to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Abdul Muhith, for his hard work, leadership and stewardship during the main segment of the Committee's work in the 79th session.

We also applaud your predecessor and the Bureau for the very successful and timely conclusion of the Committee's work during the main segment. This demonstrates that the Committee has been effective in implementing its methods of work and that the current dynamic is yielding positive results for the global development agenda.

The Group thanks the Bureau for preparing and sharing in advance the informal paper, which contains an overview of the Committee's work during this session, its existing methods of work, reflects recent practices and a list of proposals that were made in previous informal dialogues but did not enjoy consensus.

In this regard, the Group of 77 and China appreciates this initiative to try to advance the revitalization process, and we acknowledge the efforts extended by the Second Committee Bureau, as well as the progress made in advancing this agenda item.

Over the past five years the Committee has been operating under some exceptional circumstances first beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic and currently under the severe austerity and liquidity problems. However, throughout these times the Committee has always been able to make the appropriate adjustments to successfully fulfil its work in a timely and efficient manner, as has been reflected in the paper presented.

Additionally, the Group would like also to highlight that throughout these times the Committee was able to maintain the adopted by consensus the majority of its resolutions, which undoubtedly confirms that the Committee is improving its work and preserving the solidarity and multilateralism that should guide our discussions.

The Group accords a high level of importance to the revitalization of the work of the Second Committee as we believe that every effort to improve the work of the Committee is vitally important, especially as we near 2030. However, within the context of the current dynamics where the development pillar is at stake, multilateralism needs to be enhanced and the uncertainty around UN80 initiative, these coupled with the fact that we are currently in the middle of negotiating documents for several critically important processes, such as FfD4, HLPF, follow-up on the Summit of the Future, AI and others. The Group believes that the focus should be to afford the incoming Chair and Bureau for the 80th session to work closely with delegations to make small tweaks to ensure the Committee's work and programme results in a successful session.

In this regard, the Group is of the view that there is no need to take a decision on revitalization this session, as it is important to take into account the pressing ongoing processes, which demands our immediate attention within the very limited time remaining in the 79th Session. The Group once again requests that this year's decision be postponed to a future session.

The Group takes this opportunity to reiterate some of its previously expressed key positions as follows:

- The Group reaffirms of the inalienable right of all delegations to table new proposals for introduction of additional agenda items, or new draft resolutions under existing items;
- The Group underscores that the relevance of agenda items and resolutions, as well as their periodicity, should be carefully taken into consideration, on a case-by-case basis, with clear reasoning and accurate argument, and always based on the consent of the proponents of the draft resolutions;
- With respect to the proposal for co-drafting of resolutions, the G77 and China comprises a highly diversified group of countries with different developmental needs. For its part, the Group already shares the transformative ideals of co-authorship. Notwithstanding this, the Group is fully cognizant of the technicalities and complexities such an approach will incur for a group like ours. The Group of 77 and China is, therefore, not in a position to support such a proposal but will endeavor to continue consultations within the Group with a view to engaging on this matter in the future;
- The Group continues to reject the changes proposed to the specific resolutions mentioned under the section of ¨draft proposals¨ in keeping with our points raised in previous dialogues on this matter and it is not in a position to agree on any new change proposed; and
- Under the proposals for reporting, the Group continues to be concerned with the proposals to have joint reporting, merging and eliminating reports, as these reports are extremely important to the continuity of the work of the Committee and serve to form the basis upon which we are able to assess progress and address gaps and challenges in the various topic areas of the Committee. In addition, due to the already limited word capacity allocated for the reports it would be extremely unproductive to crowd reports even on sub-items under the same cluster

Mr. Chair,

In concluding, the Group of 77 and China reiterates its commitment to engaging constructively on this agenda item in future sessions, with a view to ensuring that the work of the Second Committee is conducted in a manner that gives greater impact and relevance to its intended purpose.

Thank you.

2. Two decades after the adoption of the Geneva Plan of Action and the Tunis Agenda, the Group reaffirms that information and communication technologies (ICTs) remain critical enablers of development. They are indispensable tools for improving public services, driving economic transformation, and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

3. However, despite notable global progress, developing countries continue to face deep and multifaceted digital divides. These include persistent infrastructure gaps, high connectivity costs, limited access to devices, and significant disparities in digital literacy and skills.

4. The Group underscores the urgent need to support developing countries in building their digital capacities. This includes investment in infrastructure, education and training systems, and national institutions that can design and implement inclusive digital policies tailored to local development needs.

5. At the same time, we recognize the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing offer immense potential to advance sustainable development. Yet they also pose new risks for developing countries, particularly in widening inequality, reinforcing structural dependencies, and eroding policy space.

6. The Group therefore emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the benefits of technological progress are shared equitably. To this end, we call for the transfer of technology to developing countries on preferential and concessional terms, alongside strengthened international cooperation in research, innovation, and capacity building. It is imperative that no country is isolated or left behind for any reason, as universal inclusion must be a cornerstone of the global digital future.

7. The Group further reiterates the need to uphold the principles of digital sovereignty, equity, and the right to development in the digital era. The WSIS+20 review must reflect the diverse realities of developing countries and ensure that digital transformation serves inclusive and people-centered development.

8. We also stress the need for coherence between the WSIS process and the broader UN development agenda. The outcomes of this review should complement the Global Digital Compact and meaningfully contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

9. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China calls for a transparent, inclusive, and action-oriented review process. We look forward to working with all delegations and stakeholders to produce an outcome that reflects the priorities of the Global South and paves the way for a more just and sustainable information society.

Thank you, Mrs\Mr. Co-Facilitator.