Excellencies, Distinguished panelists,

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

2. At the outset, please allow me to thank the panelists for their views and insights into our common efforts to ensuring synergy and coherence in the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Group of 77 and China is of the view that the thematic dialogue today is timely and most relevant to the upcoming midterm review of the IPoA to be held this May in Antalya, Turkey.

3. I would also like to reiterate the importance this Group attaches to all the processes and discussions leading up to the midterm review which is set against the back drop of significant commitments we had made during the course of 2015 namely the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Decision under the UNFCCC COP21. It is therefore crucial that the upcoming midterm review takes into account those commitments in particular the 2030 Agenda to contribute meaningful outcome that will yield key enablers for LDCs' successful implementation of these commitments to reach the stage of their timely and meaningful graduation by 2020.

Excellencies, Distinguished panelists,

4. To ensure synergy and coherence in national and international policies, it is important to bear in mind that national development policies are country driven and nationally owned. The international community, therefore, needs to support national governments in their efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and environment protection supported by enabling international environment, and in the process, graduation for our fellow least developed countries.

5. Enabling environment in this regard will include policies at the regional and global level that will have to be in tune with the goals and targets of the SDGs to ensure that they provide meaningful support to LDCs' efforts to tackle their specific challenges in their journey towards 2020.

6. In this light, the Group views that the areas of trade, investment and health in general and LDCs' domestic policies in the area of trade and pro-LDCs import policies in other countries in particular must be carefully attuned to ensure meaningful market access for products from LDCs. In addition, policies on financial and technical assistance, ODA, trade capacity and debt relief must also be addressed to create coherence and synergy between the IPoA and the 2030 Agenda.

7. Moreover, International organizations should focus more on supporting LDCs in working towards the achievement of the goals, objectives and principles as well as the priorities areas set down in the IPoA in sync with the 2030 Agenda. In particular the UN country teams should also use the toolkit, being developed by the UN development system, to support and ensure that LDCs' priorities are addressed at the country level bearing in mind different levels of national capacities and taking into account realities on the grounds.

Excellencies, Distinguished panelists,

8. Lastly, the Group of 77 and China looks forward to engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders in all the processes leading up to the midterm review scheduled for this May in Antalya, Turkey.

9. I thank you.