Madam President,
  
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the G77 and China.
  
The G77 and China would like to reiterate its congratulations to you for assuming the presidency of ECOSOC for the current year. Madam President, you have taken the responsibility of this important UN organ at a time when the international community is facing multiple crises. This certainly lays a heavy responsibility on you and the members of your bureau, which we are confident you are capable of shouldering. We renew our commitment to working closely with you and your team to achieve the Council's objectives as set out in its extensive agenda for 2009.

The series of multidimensional and mutually exacerbating global crises have dominated our deliberations over the last few months. The challenges that the global crises pose to our efforts, particularly in eradicating poverty and hunger, and achieving sustainable development, and the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, are only becoming more intense, especially in developing countries.

Madam President,

We remain in the midst of a global financial crisis whose impacts are still unraveling, eroding hard won gains and leading to global recession.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, our leaders, meeting at the Doha Financing for Development Review Conference, decided to convene a UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its impact on Development.    We look forward to high level participation and active contribution to the preparations for the Conference.

In our search for the best approaches to strengthen our global response to these crises, the Economic and Social Council, the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic and social issues in the UN system, should play an active role in assessing and analyzing this unprecedented situation by putting to effective use its extensive convening power.  A revitalized and empowered ECOSOC, we believe, is well equipped and positioned to do so.

In this regard, UNGA Resolution 61/16 particularly stresses that ECOSOC should continue to strengthen its role as the central mechanism for system wide coordination to promote the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related fields. The same Resolution recognizes that the Council as a Charter body is entitled to convene meetings when needed.  
  
The Group of 77 and China would therefore urge that the Council may allocate special time for holding in depth discussions on the economic and financial crises, with the aim of galvanizing international response and contributing to the UN Conference to be convened shortly. We are ready to work closely with you Madam President and our partners to see how best ECOSOC could make an effective contribution.

The Group of 77 and China believes that the high level meeting between ECOSOC, the BWIs, WTO and UNCTAD to be held at the UN Headquarters on 27 April could be a particularly timely opportunity to exchange views on the economic and financial crisis. The Group is also willing to consider alternative formats including a special session.

Madam President,

The Group of 77 and China would like to recall Paragraph 89 of the Doha Declaration, which acknowledges the need for a strengthened and more effective intergovernmental inclusive process, to carry out the financing for development follow-up, during the Council's spring meeting and at its substantive session of 2009.  The Group will work closely with you, Madam President, and our development partners in this endeavor.

I thank you.