Mr. President,

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

At the outset, the Group of 77 and China wishes to thank you for your efforts in convening this High-Level Stocktaking Event to reflect upon the various post-2015 development agenda-related processes which have occurred during the current 68th Session of the General Assembly. This event also provides Member States and other stakeholders with an opportunity to identify possible inputs to the Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General.

The thematic debates and high level events convened under your Presidency constituted a timely opportunity to exchange views, raise awareness and increase the knowledge base in setting the stage for the intergovernmental negotiations for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The stage for the Post-2015 Development Agenda was set by the Rio+20 Outcome Document. In this sense, under your leadership, the General Assembly reached a successful conclusion for all processes established by the Rio+20 outcome document, namely: the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Open Working Group on SDGs, the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing and the process leading to the establishment of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, even though the Dialogues failed in reaching the conclusion mandated for them. The outcomes of such processes will provide Member States with the main elements for the intergovernmental negotiations for the Post-2015 Development Agenda that will take place during the 69th Session of the General Assembly.

Mr. President,

Under your stewardship, the 68th Session of the General Assembly also decided to organize the Follow up conference on Financing for Development, in July 2015, and the Summit for the adoption of the Post-2015, in September 2015.

The Group expects the synthesis report of the Secretary General to reflect the outcomes of the above mentioned intergovernmental processes. The Synthesis Report must of course consider all inputs available. Yet the primacy of intergovernmental processes must be borne in mind.

The Group considers that the mandate of the Synthesis Report is to synthesize the range of inputs available and present a coherent picture for consideration of the member states. Its job is to supplement, not supplant the outcomes of the intergovernmental processes. It should build on, for example, the outcome of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and avoid presenting a counter or alternative set of goals.

Mr. President,

As the common voice of 133 Member States of the United Nations, the Santa Cruz Declaration adopted at the 50th Anniversary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 "For a New World Order for Living Well" held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Plurinational State of Bolivia, on 14 and 15 June 2014, is another important input to setting the stage for Post-2015 Development Agenda and for the Synthesis Report of the Secretary General. The Santa Cruz Declaration is particularly relevant as it presents the consensus view of the Members States of G77 on what it considers the key priorities for developing countries in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Lastly Mr. President, the resolution adopted on 9 September 2014 by the General Assembly on the Establishment of a Multilateral Legal Framework for Sovereign Debt Restructuring Processes reflects the long-standing concern of the Member States of the Group of 77 and China about the lack of a legal framework for the orderly and predictable restructuring of sovereign debts and the need to establish a set of clear principles in this regard. The resolution adopted also points to another important task in the coming year and something that is particularly relevant to the elaboration of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Sovereign Debt sustainability and restructuring is an important means of implementation and a cooperative solution to this issue under the auspices of the UN will add value to the global efforts on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

We further reaffirm that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and we express profound alarm that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise globally. We are deeply concerned that all countries, particularly developing countries, are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and are already experiencing increased impacts, including persistent drought and extreme weather events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification, further threatening food security and efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. In this regard we emphasize that adaptation to climate change represents an immediate and urgent global priority.

The Group of 77 and China is committed to work constructively toward the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which should address the core interests and priorities of developing countries, fully respecting the Rio principles and in line with Rio+20 Outcome Document.

Thank you.