Co Chairs,

The Group of 77 and China compliments you both on calling this final session before the President of the General Assembly produces his report. These discussions have been very useful even if limited. We need in this session to take a wider and more integrated view.

Co Chairs,

So far the discussions on the outcome document have focused on structure. The G-77 and China has already shared its views on the structure of the document, including the organization, and the approach to each section.

We have also listened carefully to the views and ideas of other delegations and groups of delegations on the structure. At this juncture we think it is important not to pre-judge the outcome of the review. While we have heard views on a short concise document, the Group would prefer to focus on substance rather than length. Our priority should be on a proper, substantial and thorough review of the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus. Whether this is done in two pages or 20 pages should not be our primary concern at this time. Let the forum follow the substance. In that context, we would therefore caution against a fixation on size (shortness and brevity) so as not to complicate the negotiations on the document before such negotiations get started.

Co Chairs,

Given the importance and complexity of the issue of financing for development, and of the Doha review meeting, as the first international high-level review of the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, we would fully expect a comprehensive and thorough review of the six themes of Monterrey, the linkages and interrelations among them and an analysis of new and emerging challenges to financing for development, as well as thorough analysis of the way forward.

The Group would also like to highlight that we are mandated to undertake a substantive review of ALL elements of the Monterrey Consensus. The specific call of leaders in Monterrey is for "a follow-up international conference to review the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus". We are thus required to maintain the integrity of the Consensus. We cannot pick and choose issues that are of interest to, or satisfy the agendas of, select countries while neglecting others. We must take a fair and balanced approach to the analysis of the implementation commitments of both, developed and developing countries, in the spirit of international cooperation captured in the Consensus.  We must provide the depth and breadth of analysis to facilitate the range of recommendations commensurate with the scope of the Monterrey Consensus.

This approach, we anticipate, will include a review of the progress made by developing countries in the areas of macroeconomic reforms and democratic governance. Also, that it will include a review of the program by developed countries in the areas of the restructuring and democratization of global economic governance and global economic infrastructure and environment.  We would expect substantive elaboration of these in addition to other issues in Section One of the Review Document.

The Group of 77 and China made substantive presentations on each of the sectors in Chapter Two of the Monterrey Consensus. We will not repeat these but commend them for your attention.

The Group of 77 and China expects and is prepared to work with other delegations on the Co Chairs' recommendations in the thematic areas, as well as on broader issues, such as global economic governance, coherence and infrastructure.

Co Chairs,

The Group of 77 and China raised the issue of consideration of the philosophical underpinnings of the Monterrey Consensus as set out in the opening chapter, and the broader cross-sectoral and linkage issues as well as the governance and institutional issues in Chapter Three. The implications of these issues must be clearly analyzed and be the subjects of recommendations.

The Group is open to working closely with the Co-Chairs and all delegations in highlighting the priority issues within the six themes to ensure a fair and balanced reflection in the text. The Group is also most willing to reflect on the broader issues and on the institutional arrangements for overseeing and promoting implementation of the agreement in the future.

Thank You.