Mr. Co-Chair,

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

1. First of all, the Group of 77 and China wish to express highest appreciation to the President of ECOSOC as well as the two Co-chairs for convening this forum which is the first annual STI Forum for SDGs after the adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). It is eviden that the forum has succeeded in gathering governments, private sector, scientific community and other stakeholders to jointly explore how to harness science, technology and innovation for implementing SDGs.

2. The Group have always been a key supporter to an initiative of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) which includes a UN inter-agency task team on STI for SDGs, an online platform and STI Forum, even before it was agreed and mandated by AAAA and 2030 Agenda. For developing countries like our Group, the ability to sustain healthy levels of economic growth has been affected by the lack of adequate technology infrastructure. Unless there are concrete mechanisms for the transfer of technology which proves one of the most transformative means to implement sustainable development, we could never achieve tangible outcomes of AAAA and 2030 Agenda. It is also very important to encourage both developed and developing countries to make joint efforts in STI cooperation and exchange for SDGs. The Group urge technical assistance from developed countries such as training courses in terms of capacity building.

3. The Group also wish to thank the speakers who have shared views and experiences on how STI could contribute directly to the development in key sectors such as education, health, energy and food. In addition, the Group of 77 and China wish to highlight the fact that STI, especially under TFM, encompass the breadth and depth of the 17 sustainable development goals, as technologies are crucial for the implementation of each and every SDG. For instance, STI provide tremendous potential for eradication of poverty and promotion of socio-economic development while also have a prominent role in promoting inclusive growth and development as well as serve as critical enablers of economic development and investment, with consequential benefits for employment and social welfare. STI are therefore vital to developing countries' full participation in the global economic and social community.

4. However, despite the remarkable contributions of technology to development and positive trends in its connectivity and affordability, including increased internet access, rapid diffusion of mobile communication and development of new services and applications, the Group are still concerned about the continued widening gap in digital divide including gender divide and access to technology between developed and developing countries. These gaps have prevented developing countries and the poor from full benefit of technology.

5. In this regard, the Group of 77 and China would like to reemphasise the importance of this forum in providing opportunities for developing countries to bridge these gaps. This forum should channel effective and sustainable technical assistance and capacity-building which is tailored to the specific needs and constraints of developing countries, into addressing the technology infrastructure as well as capacity constraints of developing countries, particularly in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. It is also indispensable to strengthen educational institutions and research and development organizations in developing countries. Last but not least, we wholeheartedly encourage the development, dissemination and diffusion and transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, for their implementation of the SDGs.

6. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China fervently hope for a success of this year's forum. Possible rooms for improvement for future forums include an enhanced participation of developing countries by increasing financial support to their relevant authorities from capitals. We believe that an inclusive STI forum will result in an effective interaction, matchmaking and establishment of networks among relevant stakeholders as well as in identifying and determining technology needs and gaps, and also facilitating transfer and dissemination of relevant technologies in response to the actual needs of developing countries.

I thank you.