1. Mr. President I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We thank the UNDP for the documents before us for consideration today, namely DP/2008/10 on the extension of the Third Cooperation Framework for South-South Cooperation; DP/2008/8 on the Evaluation of UNDP's Contribution to South-South Cooperation and DP/2008/9 on Management's response to the evaluation of UNDP's contribution to South-South Cooperation.

2. Mr. President, it goes without saying that South-South Cooperation is at the heart of the Group of 77 and China. Much has been said in recent discussions on the growing importance of South-South Cooperation and on the increase in volume of interaction among countries of the South. Indeed South-South Cooperation cross-cuts much of the work of UNDP and the UN Development System as a whole.

3. At the outset, Mr. President, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its position that South-South Cooperation should not be a substitute or replacement for North-South Cooperation, but rather should compliment it.

4. We thank the UNDP and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation for the work done and progress made in advancing technical and other forms of cooperation among countries of the South.  Nevertheless, the G-77 & China hopes that the Special Unit and UNDP can implement the recommendations contained in the Document DP/2008/8 on the Evaluation of UNDP's Contribution to South-South Cooperation to the extent possible, through the Fourth Cooperation Framework.

5. In particular we are keen on seeing follow-up to the findings that UNDP has not developed a robust and proactive approach to South-South Cooperation; and also on leveraging the strength of the UN System, given its collective strengths and capacities.

6. In this regard, we support the request for the extension of the Third Cooperation Framework for South-South Cooperation throughout 2008, as outlined in document DP/2008/20. This extension will allow for the Fourth Cooperation Framework to be guided by the 2007 TCPR, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2008-2011, the findings and recommendations of the evaluation on UNDP's contribution to South-South Cooperation, as well as other relevant inter-governmentally agreed decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly during the Sixty-Second Session.

7. Additionally, Mr. President, the Group of 77 and China urges donor countries and all countries in a position to do so to increase their financial support to the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation and to enhance the capacity of UNDP in carrying out its mandate on South-South Cooperation. Such support will be needed for a more effective implementation of the Fourth Cooperation Framework being planned, and to allow for the organization to effectively respond to changing dynamics and challenges of international development cooperation.

8. Mr. President the Group of 77 and China also urge donor countries to commit the necessary financial support towards increasing capacity to implement and mainstream South-South Cooperation initiatives at the country level.

9. Also, we note the intention to have the Fourth Cooperation Framework be a results-oriented one. While we welcome this approach by the Special Unit, we wish to underscore the importance for results and indicators to be inter-governmentally agreed, as well as driven by developing countries' priorities on South-South Cooperation for development. Among other things, the Framework should build on UNDP's capacity to support South-South Cooperation, triangular cooperation, as well as the mainstreaming of a South-South Development approaches at the country, regional and global levels.

10. In conclusion Mr. President, we take this opportunity to reiterate the importance we attach to South-South Cooperation and to increasing the capacity of UNDP and the Special Unit to advancing progress on implementing their mandates on South-South Cooperation at all levels.

Thank you.