1. The Group of 77 and China are pleased to sincerely congratulate the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on its 50th Anniversary.

2. Over the past 50 years, UNIDO has demonstrated its commitment and efforts in promoting sustainable industrial development and innovation, as well as mainstreaming environmentally sound technology into national productive systems of member countries through disseminating knowledge and providing advice on industrial policies and strategies, successful industrialization experiences and best practices, including the Programme for Country Partnership of the UNIDO launched in 2015. The Organization's outstanding works have immensely contributed to sustainable development through promotion of sustained economic growth, creation of decent jobs, enhanced productivity, trade and development, economic diversification, value addition, resource-efficient and low-carbon industrial production, as well as clean energy access for productive use.

3. As the global community has embarked on a journey towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role of UNIDO becomes increasingly indispensable. UNIDO's tremendous efforts in promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) is crucial to the achievement of the overarching objective of Sustainable Development, namely eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, as ISID is a part of a comprehensive strategy for the successful structural economic transformation and a key driver for the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ISID has also been included in the SDG9 and interlinked with many other development goals.

4. On this very special occasion, the Group of 77 and China thus wish to express our appreciation to the constructive engagement and continuing support of UNIDO and, while recognizing the important mandates and indispensable role of UNIDO as the key driver in supporting developing countries in achieving the goal of ISID, stand ready to working closely with UNIDO towards achieving the SDGs in 2030 and beyond.

I thank you.