Mr. President,
Distinguished Colleagues,

It is my honour, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to introduce to the General Assembly the draft resolution on "Modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting on Africa's development needs," contained in document A/62/L.29/Rev.1.

Mr. President, since the launch of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) much has been achieved by way of sustainable development in African countries. NEPAD continues to represent the collective determination and commitment of African countries to take control of their own sustainable economic and social development.

In December, the General Assembly "reaffirmed its decision to hold a high-level meeting on Africa's Development Needs: State of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward," during its sixty-third session. As Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, I am particularly pleased that the General Assembly now has the opportunity to come to unanimous agreement on the modalities and format of this event, given its importance and significance.

If the developing world is to meet the MDGs by 2015, it is vital that we pay particular attention to the special needs of Africa, and on the importance of implementing commitments made to African countries.

Mr. President, the draft resolution is a straightforward one with a short preamble recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, as well as General Assembly Resolution 60/265. It further recalls the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council in 2001 on "The role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African Countries to achieve sustainable development."

The resolution also reaffirms the special needs of Africa, while noting that the implementation of commitments made to and by African countries will contribute to the continent's achievement of the MDGs by 2015.

Mr. President the resolution also sets the date, format and level of the meeting, the latter being the highest political level, including Heads of State or Government, and decides that the meeting will result in a political declaration on Africa's development needs. It also mandates the United Nations to consult closely with the African Union in preparing for the meeting.

Further, Mr. President, the draft resolution before us requests the Secretary-General to submit to the meeting a comprehensive report containing recommendations on "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward," in consultation with UN development agencies, the BWIs and other relevant regional and international institutions.

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to thank all the member States for supporting this resolution as an expression of their commitment to strengthening international cooperation to achieve sustainable development in Africa, and I personally hope that the General Assembly will adopt the resolution by consensus.

Thank you Mr. President.