Distinguished Co-Chairs,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. The Group underscores that Focus Area 15 on Means of Implementation is by far the most fundamental section, because a meaningful and adequate set of actions is needed if developing countries are to be able to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. It is not an overstatement to say that the SDGs will stand or fall depending on their Means of Implementation.

3. In order to ensure that the Means of Implementation and Global Partnership are meaningful, both the specific and the systemic dimensions of the various issues addressed in the targets need to be further developed and clarified, so that they are relevant to both the global system as well as the specific requirements of developing countries.

4. As the G77 and China has stated previously, the very notion of 'means of implementation' means that the mix of financial resources, technological development and transfers as well as capacity building must be supported by actions from developed countries at the international level. This refers to time-bound financing targets; associated trade and economic policies; technology transfer and other resources to assist and enable developing countries efforts.

5. Bearing this in mind, we are seriously concerned that Focus Area 15 on Means of Implementation in this third version of the document does not refer specifically to concrete actions that developed countries, and the international financial institutions in which they have a majority voice in, should undertake.

6. Furthermore, we reiterate that the Monterrey and Doha conferences on financing for development are a strong foundation for the SDG financing strategy. This should be reflected in the Means of Implementation.

7. As this Focus Area is currently outlined, the Means of Implementation are defined as operational issues like finance, trade and technology, while the Global Partnership for Development is defined primarily as a process of engaging stakeholders and of reporting progress. There have to be a clear difference between the issues of finance and technology transfer and the Global Partnership for Development. The first two should come mainly from public sources of developed countries.

8. There are the well known goals and targets within MDG Goal 8, which deal with ODA, trade, debt, access to medicines, technology etc. These already established goals and targets and should be reflected within the targets listed in the Focus Areas Document for the SDGs.

9. We call for a strengthened and enhanced Global Partnership for Development according to the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR),, firmly based on international cooperation on a broad range of key development issues, and primarily on a North-South basis. The meaning of Global Partnership for Development should not be overwhelmed by the notion of Partnerships in the plural, which overwhelmingly refers to engaging with the private sector or civil society.

10. The Global Partnership for Development is one that is principally between governments of developed and developing countries, with the developed countries taking the lead in providing resources and the means of implementation.

11. Co-Chairs, we find that the most problematic target is the first one, in target (a). It reads: "promote open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading and financial systems." The clustering of trade and finance in the same target is entirely inappropriate, because while an open and equitable multilateral trade system should be promoted, an open financial system is an entirely different matter and should not be promoted.

12. An open financial system is defined as a liberalized system of financial flows that allow funds, including speculative funds, to move in and out of countries. This has triggered many financial crises over the decades, and has led to significant outflows of illicit financial flows from developing countries, particularly through corporate tax evasion and avoidance, the use of offshore tax havens and transfer mispricing by Transnational Corporations.

13. Furthermore, as previously stated, despite previous debt relief initiatives and recent efforts, many developing countries still have substantial amount of state resources tied up in debt repayments. In this regard, it is imperative that a permanent and effective sovereign debt workout mechanism must be created to resolve the debt problem. With regard to target (m) on debt, which currently states "ensure debt sustainability and debt relief," it should be amended to include: "ensure debt sustainability, debt restructuring and debt relief, and these efforts should take into account the country's need to successfully implement the agreed SDGs."

14. Finally, as previously stressed by the Group of 77 and China, global official development assistance remains an important source of public financing for developing countries, particularly those without sufficient access to other sources. We urge for prompt action to reverse this decline and call for progress towards the 0.7 percent of GNI target, including the 0.15 percent to 0.20 percent target for least developed countries.

I thank you, Co-Chairs!