Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 17 entitled "Information and communication technologies for development".

2. The Group would like to thank the Secretary-General for the important documents submitted under this agenda item, namely "Progress made in the implementation of and follow up to the outcomes of the World Summit on Information Society at regional and international levels", document A/67/66-E/2012/49, and "Report of the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of the General Assembly resolution 50/130", document A/67/207. These documents will guide our deliberations.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China would like to emphasize on the importance of Information and Communication Technologies for achieving the Internationally Agreed Development Goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. The role of ICTs in this regard has been underlined in the outcome documents of all major UN conferences, including the outcome document of the High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals and the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+ 20.

4. The full access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) would be, helpful to our effort to actively participate in the global economy and harness the benefits of globalization. This vital tool, which has a prominent role in promoting inclusive growth and development, holds tremendous potential not only for eradication of poverty, achievement of the MDGs and promotion of socio-economic development but also for bridging the ever widening technological gap between developing and developed countries.

5. Although significant advances and explosive growth in new technologies have been made in recent years, for the majority of the poor the developmental promise of science and technology, including information and communication technologies, remains unfulfilled. Creating links between knowledge generation and development is one of the greatest challenges facing the developing countries.

6. While G77 and China recognizes the progress made in areas of mobile telephony and access to the internet, the Group expresses concern regarding the existing digital divide between developed and developing countries, particularly in the availability, affordability, quality of access and broadband connectivity. There is a vital need to address the new dimensions that the digital divide has taken on, including the quality of available access, and what it can offer users.

Mr. Chairman,

7. The ongoing financial and economic crisis has negatively affected developing countries' capacities to mobilize resources for development. Hence, the Crisis has impacted the pace of ICT diffusion, as well as the capacity of governments and private sector to mobilize resources and attract investments to enhance ICT infrastructure.

8. The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) was held to address the challenge of the digital divide facing developing countries. The G77 and China attaches great importance to the full and effective implementation of the outcomes of both the Geneva and Tunis phases of the Summit including the provisions related to internet Governance.

9. The G77 and China takes note of the report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Internet Governance Forum, and underlines the importance of implementing the recommendations contained in the report of the Working Group, particularly enhancing participation from developing countries.

Mr. Chairman,

10. While taking note of the open consultation on enhanced cooperation on public policy issues pertaining to the internet convened by the Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, held in Geneva on 18 May 2012, we believe that the efforts in the area of internet Governance have fallen short of enabling governments, on an equal footing, to carry out their roles and responsibilities in respect of international public policy issues related to the Internet as stated in paragraph 35 of the Tunis Agenda.

11. The Group of 77 and China underlines that the all efforts should be made to fulfill the objective of allowing all governments to have an equal role and responsibility for international Internet governance and for ensuring the stability, security and continuity of the Internet in accordance with paragraph 68 of Tunis Agenda.

12. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms the role of the United Nations General Assembly in the overall review of the implementation of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) outcomes.
13. And as it is recognized in paragraph 111 of the Tunis agenda on information society, we call for the holding by 2015 of the ten-year overall high level review conference of the implementation of WSIS outcomes.

I thank you.