I have the honor to speak on behalf of the 133 Members of the Group of 77 and China.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China has engaged in this consultation process from its outset in a spirit of constructiveness and flexibility, with the concern of having a strong, feasible High Level Political Forum that would bring added value, and would be able to fulfill its mandate with respect to moving forward the implementation of Sustainable Development and the integration of its three dimensions, as per Rio+20 outcome document and resolution 67/290.

The Group of 77 and China acknowledges that the President of ECOSOC, as mandated by resolutions 67/290 and 68/210, carried out coordination and broad consultations with the membership of the Forum in order to build consensus on the theme of the High Level Political Forum for 2014.

The Group of 77 and China also understands that the current transitional period is unique in nature, as the High Level Political Forum has not been fully operationalized, and has not held its Ministerial meeting yet.

Therefore, the Group of 77 and China is ready to go along with the decision by ECOSOC with regard to the theme of the Forum, solely under the understanding that such decision does not constitute a precedent, and that HLPF will decide, from its coming ministerial meeting onward, on the theme and organization of its future meetings.

I thank you, Mr. President.