Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, on Item 22 regarding LDCs and LLDCs.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group express concern for the situation in the least developed countries, which continues to deteriorate as a consequence of ongoing multiple and mutually exacerbating global crises.

The global financial and economic crisis currently under way is clearly undermining development in the least developed countries. The modest development gains that these countries have made over the years are being reversed, pushing a larger number of their people into extreme poverty.

Many least developed countries continue to lag in meeting most of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group wants to emphasize the need for the full and effective implementation of the commitments made in the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020.

And further underline the critical need to realize expeditiously a renewed and strengthened global partnership for the least developed countries in order to overcome their structural challenges, eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals and enable half the number of least developed countries to meet the criteria for graduation from the category by 2020.

The G77 supports the initiatives that would serve as key enablers for LDCs to reach the stage of graduation, and also is of the view that a Midterm review of the IPoA will be vital in order to achieve the implementation of the commitments.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China welcomes the convening of the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Vienna, Austria from 3 to 5 October 2014.

The G77 and China consider that the Conference has major importance for the recognition of the special needs and challenges faced by the landlocked developing countries caused by their lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by their remoteness from world markets.

The G77 and China has expressed its concern about the fact that the economic growth and social well-being of landlocked developing countries remain very vulnerable to external shocks and to the multiple challenges the international community faces, including the financial and economic crisis and climate change.

In that order, the Group recalls and stresses the need for the international community to enhance development assistance to landlocked developing countries to help them overcome their vulnerabilities, build resilience and set themselves on a path of sustainable social and economic development, and to help develop priorities for a new, more comprehensive, common action-oriented framework of landlocked developing countries for the next decade.

Mr. Chairman,

The organization of the ten-year review Conference to estimate the implementation of Almaty Program of Action (APoA) on addressing the special needs of LLDCs, represent an important opportunity for LLDCs, transit developing countries, and also for the development partners to evaluate the implementation of the APoA, as well as provide a new program of action that complements and broadens what was already achieved and should also aim to eradicate poverty, enhance competitiveness, and productive capacities as well as ensure a better future for people living in all LLDCs.

The G77 and China urges development partners of LLDCs to assume the Commitment to provide sufficient, reliable and predictable financial and technical assistance to LLDCs to address the specific needs and challenges imposed by their particular geographical situation in the new PoA.

Thank you.