STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY H.E MRS. CHULAMANEE CHARTSUWAN, AMBASSADOR AND DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE JOINT MEETING OF ECOSOC AND THE PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION (New York, 24 June 2016)

M. Chairman,

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

2. Allow me to express our appreciation to the President of ECOSOC and through you to Ambassador Kamau, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, for convening this Joint Meeting to provide an opportunity to explore linkages between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and sustaining peace in accordance with the resolutions A/RES/70/262 and S/RES/2282.

3. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims at poverty eradication in all its forms as its overarching goal which is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. Furthermore, the new Agenda, among others, recognizes the need to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Hence, it is our shared aspiration that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.

Mr. President,

4. Indeed, the Group of 77 and China believe that all 17 SDGs in their entirety are crucial and instrumental enablers for peace and the establishment and continued existence of a peaceful society. Development ought to be holistic, inclusive and beneficial to all for it to be sustainable and conducive to peace. It must address persisting poverty, in particular, extreme poverty, inequality, and ensure equitable access to resources, quality education, decent work and justice. It is our shared ultimate goal to leave no one behind - be it man, woman or child.

5. ECOSOC is at the heart of the United Nations system in advancing the three dimensions of sustainable development. Its mandates in advancing development have enabled ECOSOC to become the UN hub of knowledge and expertise for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. To achieve all the SDGs in the required timeframe, we believe that more efforts are still needed to ensure that the UN system responds to the differentiated needs of all developing countries including emerging development challenges.

6. Countries facing conflicts and post-conflict challenges also need special attention. The challenges posed by conflict, can hinder or even reverse decades of development gains. We are of the view that development can contribute to reducing social, environmental and economic vulnerabilities and enabling countries to prevent or resolve conflict situations. Also, there is a need for aid to be delivered efficiently through simplified mechanisms, focusing on strengthening the capacity of local and national institutions, while stressing the importance of national ownership and leadership in both peacebuilding, social inclusion and development with full respect of national sovereignty.

7. We attach importance to and, thus, support enhanced dialogue between the Peacebuilding Commission and ECOSOC, in accordance with their respective mandates. This should aim at strengthening their coordination, identifying complementarities to prevent duplication of work and improving coherence, in order to achieve their respective goals. We believe that enhancing developmental approach to peacebuilding drawing upon the vast experience and expertise of the ECOSOC in fostering sustainable development in developing countries can be beneficial.

8. Last but not least, the Group of 77 and China wish to reiterate our support for and reaffirm our constructive engagement in this Joint Meeting and wish you all the success in these deliberations.

I thank you.