Co-Facilitators,

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

2. At the outset, we would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Co-facilitators for the informal consultations on the Ministerial Declaration for the 2016 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

3. We took note with appreciation of the circulation of the provisional consultation schedule, the suggested list of potential elements of the draft Ministerial Declaration and the outcomes of the consultations on the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) to be reflected in the 2016 HLPF Ministerial Declaration pursuant to paragraph 83 of the 2030 Agenda.

4. The year 2016 marks the first year we embark on our collective journey towards a sustainable future. Thus, it is important that we show the global communities how far we have come and our continued unwavering commitments to further translate our ambitions set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into real actions. In this regard, the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration at the first HLPF in the first implementation year is in itself a testimony of how important this task is to all of us.

Co-Facilitators,

5. We believe that your initial suggestion for the set of elements for the draft Ministerial Declaration provides a good basis for our further consultations. We wish to share our additional views as follows:

6. First, the Ministerial Declaration should be short, concise, while substantive in its nature, and strong in pronouncing our ambitions and commitments. We should not forget what has been achieved through the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and that we shall continue to address those challenges that still remain.

7. Second, the Ministerial Declaration should reflect the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by reaffirming the overarching objective of eradication of poverty "in all its forms and dimensions", particularly extreme poverty, which remain the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

8. Third, we are of the view that the Sustainable Development Goals and targets are integrated and indivisible, global in nature and universally applicable while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development. In order to achieve the SDGs, we must cooperate in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development, including through elimination of coercive economic measures against developing countries. In this regard, in order to truly leave no one behind, the Ministerial Declaration must reflect challenges and needs faced by Countries in special situations, in particular, African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States as well as specific challenges that many middle-income countries face, conflict and post-conflict countries and countries and peoples living under foreign occupation.

9. Fourth, the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda called for an establishment of a technology facilitation mechanism (TFM) which is one of the most important tools in order to support the sustainable development goals. In this regard, we are of the view that the Ministerial Declaration should refer to the progress made in all 3 components of the TFM, namely the UN inter-agency task team on science, technology and innovation for the sustainable development goals, the online platform as a gateway for information on existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programmes and the collaborative annual multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the sustainable development goals.

10. Fifth, we welcome the incorporation of the outcome of the consultations on the GSDR and are open to discuss the format of its inclusion into the Ministerial Declaration which could also be in form of an annex.

11. Last but not least, we take good note of the timeframe and the compact provisional consultation schedule. We therefore would highly welcome an early release of the zero draft of the Ministerial Declaration.

Co-Facilitators,

12. Given the high importance the Group attach to the Ministerial Declaration, we are pleased to inform you that the delegation of Vietnam will be supporting Thailand as the coordinator of the Group of 77 and China. We reaffirm our readiness to engage in the consultation process with an open-mind and a spirit of cooperation. We would also like to call on all sides to engage in this important process with the same spirit.

I thank you.