Mr. President,

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

The Group would like to express its profound gratitude to the Government and the people of the Republic of Austria for hosting the United Nations Second Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries from 3 to 5 November 2014, and for providing all the necessary support for the successful conclusion of the meeting.

Mr. President,

As the General Assembly adopts the outcome for Second Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, the Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate and stress the importance of the implementation of the commitments that have been agreed in the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024 in its six priority areas, namely, fundamental transit policy issues, infrastructure development and maintenance, international trade and trade facilitation, regional integration and cooperation, structural economic transformation and means of implementation at all levels, in a coordinated, coherent, and expeditious manner.

The Group underlines the importance of the successful implementation, follow-up and review of the Vienna Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels.

Further we call upon the development partners to integrate the Vienna Programme of Action into their respective national cooperation policy frameworks, programmes and activities, to provide targeted technical and financial support towards the implementation of the specific actions listed in the Programme of Action.

Guided by the spirit of solidarity, we as the developing countries, are also engaged to provide support for the effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action in mutually agreed areas of cooperation within the framework of South-South cooperation, which is a complement to, but not a substitute for North-South cooperation.

The Group will also call upon the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, relevant international organizations, regional economic integration organizations and other relevant regional and subregional organizations to integrate the Vienna Programme of Action into their programme of work, and to provide greater support to the landlocked developing countries for the implementation of this Programme of Action.

Mr. President,

The Group reiterates, once more, its strong support to the LLDCs Group and hopes that the VPoA will give place to a strengthened partnership aimed at overcoming their needs and challenges.

The Group believes that the only way to achieve the ambitious result that will truly address the special challenges faced by LLDCs and will let them overcome their geographical disadvantages, unlock their potential and become active and successful participants in the international economy, is through genuine and strong engagement and cooperation of all the international community.

I thank you.