Co-facilitators,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group 77 and China.

We would like to first express our appreciation for the elements paper which reflects a number of inputs the Group has provided thus far as well as elements which we will be commenting and exchanging views today.

Once again, the Group would like to stress that it is utmost important to build our discussion on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in its section on the follow-up and review. While undertaking this exercise, we must also bear in mind that the follow-up and review at the global level happens at multiple forums, all of which comes together at the HLPF, which has a central role in overseeing a network of follow-up and review processes at the global level.

Co-facilitators,

Allow me to share the Group's views on the elements of the draft resolution as follows:

Framing the resolution

- The Group would like to emphasize that we must not reinterpret the principles which we have already agreed on and would like to see a better coordination among other processes, including the revitalization of the work of the committees of the General Assembly, the ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-term Positioning, the aligning of the General Assembly agenda to the 2030 Agenda, among others.

SG's Report

- The Report of the Secretary-General (A/70/684) is a good basis for discussion on the architecture of the follow-up and review framework at the global level, however, a great many recommendations require further discussions and clarifications. In this regard, we would like to "take note" of the Report.

Themes

- It is important to make the distinction between thematic review and the themes of the annual HLPF.

- On thematic review, we are open to consider reviewing focused set of goals and their interlinkages each year at the HLPF under the auspices of the ECOSOC which will allow a more in-depth discussion, so long as we can ensure that all goals are being reviewed in a cycle and treated equally. We are still considering the methodology of the selection of goals in a strategic manner.

- On themes of the annual HLPF, we think that the themes will be based on the selected number of goals. We would like to see the selected focused set of goals represent the balance of the three dimensions of sustainable development. The cycle of the HLPF under the auspices of the ECOSOC and the General Assembly will affect how many focused goals are to be selected for each year, in this regard, the Group of 77 and China would like to request the Office of the Legal Affairs to provide us its interpretation on this matter.

- We would like to note that the national reviews in our opinion do not have to necessarily focus on a theme, or be confined to the focus goals selected for further review in any given year.

- The resolution should decide that the HLPF should review SDG17 annually.
(Voluntary) National Reviews

- The Group would like to reiterate Paragraph 84 of the 2030 Agenda which states that the HLPF under the auspices of the ECOSOC, shall carry out regular reviews, in line with the General Assembly resolution 67/290 and that Reviews will be voluntary, while encouraging reporting.

- Since the nature of the national reviews is voluntary, thus, we do not think that it is necessary to spell out in the resolution the frequency which States should undertake the voluntary national reviews or set any guideline.

- Furthermore, we would like to reaffirm Paragraph 74 (h) of the 2030 Agenda which underlines that the follow-up and review processes at all levels will require enhanced capacity-building support for developing countries, including the strengthening of national data systems and evaluation programmes, particularly in African countries, LDCs, SIDS, LLDCs and middle-income countries.

Regional Review

- We support reaffirming Paragraph 80 and 81 of the 2030 Agenda in the first paragraph.

- As for the second paragraph concerning inviting regional commissions to prepare a "common format" for conveying the results of the regional forums on Sustainable Development to the HLPF, we think that it is already covered by Paragraph 80. We are also concerned about developing a "common format" of every region as each region has its own context and priorities.

- As we mentioned earlier that regional review is a bottom-up approach, thus, there should be a level of flexibility for each region to define its own term of reference for the review process.

Countries in special situations

- We are pleased to see that OP11 of Resolution 67/290 is fully reflected, however, we must not leave countries under foreign occupation, as well as countries in situation of conflict and post conflict, behind.

Participation and Non-UN Entities

- There are existing relevant resolutions on the modalities and General Assembly Rules which deals with the issues of Participation and Non-UN Entities, including in Resolution 67/290 which specifically deals with participation in HLPF. In this regard, we do not think that these elements need to be reiterated in this resolution.

Facilitating Input to the HLPF

- The focus right now is largely on the HLPF, however, the scope of the resolution covers the follow up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level.

- We would like to reiterate that all inputs and reports, including from functional commissions as well as the General Assembly's main committees, should be fed into the HLPF. The Group would like to reaffirm Paragraph 82 of the 2030 Agenda which states that the HLPF will have a central role in overseeing a network of follow-up and review processes at the global level, working coherently with the General Assembly, ECOSOC and other relevant organs and forums, in accordance with existing mandates. In this regard, it is of crucial importance to establish a link between the General Assembly and the HLPF.

- We view the request made to the Secretary-General as a matter of the secretariat for which the Secretary-General does not need our mandate.
Coherence

- This is a very important element in the resolution for the Group, thus, we would like to have a strong and comprehensive paragraph which covers the General Assembly and the Second Committee in order to guide international cooperation.

- We believe that the role of the General Assembly needs to have a prominent place.

- The Group would like to reaffirm Paragraph 88 of the 2030 Agenda which stresses the importance of system-wide strategic planning, implementation and reporting in order to ensure coherent and integrated support to the implementation of the new Agenda by the United Nations Development System. Special attention should be given to the ECOSOC Dialogue on Longer-term Positioning of the United Nations Development System.

Role of the Secretariat

- This part can be combined with the "Coherence" part and the focus should be on enhancing cooperation.

- Refer to OP23 of the resolution 67/290 which decides that the HLPF shall be support by UNDESA in close cooperation with all relevant entities of the UN system, within their respective mandates.

Output

- The Group reaffirms OP7(g) of Resolution 67/290 that the HLPF under the auspices of the ECOSOC shall result in a negotiated ministerial declaration for inclusion in the report of the ECOSOC to the General Assembly.

Way Forward

- The existing language focuses on the HLPF only. We think that it should be broader than the HLPF. There is a need to improve coherence of all current processes, especially that at the ECOSOC.

- The element on the Way Forward can be considered under "Coherence".

Co-facilitators,

These are our views and inputs in response to the elements paper. Please rest assured that the Group of 77 and China will continue to participate in this process actively and constructively.

I thank you.