Madame President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the G-77 and China at the conclusion of the ECOSOC substantive session of 2009.

First of all, let me express, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, our gratitude to you, Mr. President, for your leadership and the entire Bureau for their untiring efforts to the successful conclusion of ECOSOC substantive session. We take this opportunity to extend our admiration to all the Facilitators of draft resolutions for their great efforts in reaching agreements on very difficult issues. We would also express our appreciation for the Secretariat for their excellent work and for providing us with all necessary support without fail. We are really grateful.

The Group had rich deliberations with our partners, over the past weeks on issues of global significance and relevance to the lives of our or people. But we observe with disappointment the resistance and reluctance of the Partners to make any real progress on many issues. Having said that, the G-77 and China believes that the theme of global public health for this year's substantive session was indeed critical and timely. The Ministerial Declaration adopted by consensus, augurs well for the strengthened ECOSOC and is considered ground breaking in many ways.

The Declaration paves the road forward for taking concerted action on many critical issues related to global public health. It calls for the strengthening of international cooperation to confront unforeseen threats and epidemics, such as the current H1N1 pandemic, H5N1. It calls for strengthening political will to achieve MDGs 4 and 5. Most importantly, the Declaration acknowledges the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries, and calls for strengthening the global partnership for development. It further stresses that international cooperation and assistance, in particular external funding, and better-aligned with national priorities.

Madame President,

The G-77 and China believes that securing a conducive international environment is imperative for the achievement of the MDGs, and is critical for assisting our global efforts to advance global public health.

The Group has thus emphasized during the dialogue with international financial and trade institutions that the current crisis has further highlighted the urgent need for a substantive and comprehensive reform of the international economic and financial system and architecture, and stressed that International Financial Institutions, in particular, must have a clear development orientation.

Madame President,

The Economic and Social Council has indeed taken further strides towards its strengthening by convening the Annual Ministerial Reviews which is evolving into an effective forum for the exchange of experiences and best practices, and also in helping shed light on the obstacles facing countries in achieving the MDGs, and exploring ways and means to over come these obstacles.

The number of presentations by developing countries, and the depth and diversity of the issues discussed in their presentations is a clear signal to the seriousness with which developing countries are approaching the AMR, and we look forward to more participation of our developed countries to further enhance the AMR and its outcomes.

The G-77 and China equally believes that the MR can further be enriched by the contribution and active engagement of the UN funds, programs, and agencies, in addition the international financial and economic institutions.

The Group has always maintained that the Council should seek to make the AMR and the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) action and result oriented. We believe that the AMR would be more fruitful if its themes could emerge from the information and data provided by the functional and regional commissions with a view to monitor the implementation of development goals and commitments.

Madame President,

The G-77 and China welcomes the adoption by ECOSOC of the decision to set in motion a process to conclude the discussion of UNFF 8 on the means of implementation for sustainable forest management.

The G-77 and China firmly believes that without the necessary financing, the Global Objectives on Forests and non-legally binding instrument on all forests will be empty words. Furthermore, inadequate funding diminishes the effectiveness of the UNFF as an international forum for the implementation of sustainable forest management.

Madame President, we equally welcome the agreements reached during this session on key mandates on the Economic and Financial crisis Outcome document. We have made progress and set in motion the process for fulfilling our responsibilities on the Global Job Pact, the implementation of agreement with Bretton Woods Institutions, Promotion and enhancement of the United Nations Development system and the Ad Hoc Panel of Experts.

Your leadership on these issues is vital and we will do our best in collaboration with our partners to fulfill these mandates.

Finally, let me conclude by thanking once more all delegations for their efforts and dedication.

I thank you.