2. The Group wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to the Governments of Ethiopia and Chile, the host countries of ECA and ECLAC for their continued support in facilitating the implementation of the relevant construction projects. The Group reiterates the importance of close cooperation between the Organization and these host countries, and we trust that the Secretary-General will continue to take steps to engage the local Governments to ensure the success of the project.

3. Regarding ECLAC, the Group takes note of the sixth progress report on the construction project for the renovation of the North Building at ECLAC in Santiago which is expected to be the first "net-zero" building within the United Nations system.

4. The Group welcomes the advances in the construction phase, with a projected substantial completion of the project by the end of 2024. We note that no additional funding is required for the completion of the remaining project stages and that the project team will be continued for a limited duration in 2025 to ensure the smooth implementation of the handover and commissioning activities.

Madam Chair,

5. Turning to ECA, the Group notes with appreciation the contributions of the Government of Ethiopia including the donation of land to be used by the visitor's center of the Africa Hall. The completion of this center is critical in preserving and restoring the historical and cultural values of African history. The Group also appreciates the Governments of Mali, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy for their financial and in-kind contributions and pledges. We look forward to additional voluntary contributions to support the project from other Member States.

6. The Group welcomes that the inauguration of the Africa Hall is scheduled to take place from 21 to 24 October 2024. This is a milestone which cements the fact that the Africa Hall will continue to be a symbol of hope and aspirations of the African people and a showcase to exhibit how far they have come in their uphill struggle to overcome their challenges and the magnificent cultures and heritage they have managed to conserve.

7. Finally, the Group notes that no outstanding major contractual requirements are foreseen over and beyond those in the close-out phase and minimum resources will be required for the project management team to be continued until September 2025, and in supporting the dedicated project team during the rectification of defects and close out.

I thank you.

2. The Group would like to thank Mr. António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations for presenting his proposed programme plan and budget for 2025. We also thank Mr. Abdallah Bachar Bong, the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for introducing the Committee's related report.

3. We also wish to appreciate the Chairperson of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC), Ambassador, Sarah Safyn Fyneah and her Bureau for their efforts during the committee's deliberations in the 64th Session of the CPC.

Madam Chair,

4. With respect to the Programme Planning; the Group wishes to underline that the programmatic nature of the United Nations regular budget cannot be altered since this is a special feature of the intergovernmental character of this Organization. To this end, the Group reaffirms its unwavering support to the prerogatives of the Committee for Programme Coordination (CPC) in its work as the main subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council for planning, programming, evaluation and coordination. The CPC role should only be strengthened rather than weakened. It is also crucial that members of the CPC continue providing their substantive recommendations to the programmes formulated by the Secretariat. The Group notes that there are a number of programmes without recommendations from the CPC.

5. We once again call for the implementation of the mandates enshrined in resolution 78/244 whereby the General Assembly decided that the incoming Presidents of the General Assembly and the Chairs of the Fifth Committee shall reach out to and support the Chairs of the Main Committees to ensure these bodies consider the programmes that are without recommendations from the CPC, as appropriate, and that conclusions and recommendations on these programmes are issued on time to the Fifth Committee.

6. Turning to the proposed budget for 2025, the Group notes that the Secretary- General has proposed a budget of about $3.6 billion before the add ons that are envisaged. The Group emphasizes that mandates must be adequately financed. However, it is particularly concerning when it comes to the financing of the Organization's priority areas related to the promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, and to the development of Africa. Over the last five years, the resources for the development pillar have remained stagnant or barely changed whereas resources for some other pillars have increased by almost 64% in one aspect.

7. The Group reiterates its call for the strengthening of the development pillar and will work towards ensuring adequate resources for bodies that are integral to the development pillar. To this end, the Group also supports a well-resourced UNCTAD, DESA, OHRLLS, ECA, ESCAP, ECLAC, ESCWA among others, and we recall that the General Assembly in its resolution 72/279 paragraph 14 mandated that efficiency gains should be redeployed to development activities.

8. Relatedly, the Group wishes to reiterate the importance of having a thorough conversation on the functioning and impact of the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation "RPTC" and the Development Account. As of today, both mechanisms receive considerably low resources, and a more coordinated structure is necessary to better respond to the needs on the ground rather than the demands of different Secretariat entities. We aspire to increase the relevance of the Secretariat to the peoples that need the United Nations the most, especially those from the global South.

9. The Group of 77 and China would also like to reiterate our strong support for UNRWA and will work towards ensuring that adequate financial resources they need during this critical time are provided.

Madam Chair,

10. The Organization recently marked the Summit of the Future as an important occasion to turbocharge the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to reinvigorate our commitment with multilateralism. When it comes to the commitment with multilateralism, the Group is deeply concerned with the financial constraints imposed on the Organization by the significant arrears in the collection of payments, most of them pertaining to the single largest contributor. We have seen this year how much this affects the implementation of the programme budget. The approval of the proposed programme budget for 2025 will be meaningless if the Organization is not provided with the liquidity it requires to deliver its mandates.

11. The Group wishes to propose to the Secretary General that, whenever there is a liquidity crisis, a statement be made by the Secretariat, at the beginning of the General Debate of the General Assembly during the High-Level Week, informing of the financial constraints faced by Organization. We believe this critical matter deserves the attention of all delegations at the highest levels since this situation will only be remedied through higher political commitment towards the United Nations.

Madam Chair,

12. The Group also wishes to reiterate that the principles of equitable geographical representation and gender parity are a core concern of the Group of 77 and China and we look forward to understanding the practical steps being taken by the Secretary-General in achieving equitable geographical representation within the organization. While we note significant progress in achieving gender parity within the organization, there is a lack of similar and complementary efforts and progress to ensure geographical representation in the Organization, especially at senior levels where there has been a glaring imbalance for the last five years.

13. In conclusion, we reaffirm the Group's commitment that the work we undertake in this session is not only about implementing decisions and ensuring the provision of adequate resources for mandates but also about ensuring the quality of life for all individuals. We will participate in the discussions positively with a spirit of consensus on this important agenda item.

I thank you.

2. At the outset, the Group expresses its deep appreciation to the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) for its crucial inputs to the Secretary-General's report submitted under agenda item 59, as well as for its comprehensive presentation of this report today.

Mr. Chair,

3. The Group thanks the Secretary-General for his sobering report which highlights the cumulative ramifications of repressive and unlawful Israeli practices and apartheid policies against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan. The systematic violations being perpetrated by the occupying Power are exacerbating already-fragile living conditions and severely obstructing the social and economic development of the respective populations. And, today, we renew our unwavering and unequivocal support for the Palestinian people, their legitimate aspirations and inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination, and our support for their economic development efforts in the face of immense and existential challenges, and renew also our support for the Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan.

Mr. Chair,

4. The Group is gravely concerned about the dramatic deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, which has been reflected in the ESCWA report as: "a catastrophic situation for the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza, who were already living in dire social and economic conditions in view of 57 years of occupation and 17 years of closures of Gaza, and rendered much of Gaza uninhabitable, with tens of thousands losing their lives, the majority of whom reportedly were women and children, and 1.7 million Palestinians displaced".

5. It is an undeniable fact that development in Palestine and the Syrian Golan will continue to be hampered and obstructed for as long as the illegal Israeli occupation continues. It is extremely distressing, as indicated in the recent World Bank and the relevant UN reports, that Israel's ongoing military assault on Gaza and the intensification of Israeli restrictions throughout the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, have inflicted the greatest damage to the Palestinian economy, including, inter alia, elevated levels of unemployment, total collapse of the education system, as well as rising poverty and soaring food insecurity, pushing nearly 2 million people in Gaza to the edge of widespread famine.

6. The Group welcomes the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 and resolution ES-10/24 adopted by the General Assembly in this regard. We underscore in specific the Court's determinations that Israel's presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and must be brought to an end as rapidly as possible, and that it continues exploiting the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for its own benefit and for the benefit of its illegal settlements, in breach of its obligation to respect the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources, thus, impeding the exercise of their right to self-determination, and the realization of sustainable development.

7. In this regard, the Group stresses the imperative of immediate ceasefire and the upholding of obligations under international law, including in implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions towards enabling the Palestinian people and the Syrian Population in the Syrian Golan to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, which is the right of all peoples and a core expression of self-determination, and ensure that they are not left behind, a commitment made in the 2030 Agenda that we cannot forsake.

8. To this end, the international community should shoulder its responsibilities and engage in collective and multilateral efforts to bring an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and of the Syrian Golan. This includes undertaking serious and concrete measures of accountability in accordance with their respective international law obligations and the relevant UN resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 497, 2334 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/24, in order to bring to an end to all the violations and atrocities being perpetrated by the occupying Power, including all the illegal settlement activities and all theft of natural resources.

9. In closing, the Group reaffirms, as the Secretary-General's report has concluded, that adherence to international law is fundamental for securing justice and peace for all those living in the region, including Palestinians and Syrians who have suffered under illegal occupation for far too long.

I thank you.