Distinguished Co-facilitators,

1. I have the honor to deliver these general remarks on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. At the outset, the Group of 77 and China would like to express its appreciation for the co-facilitators and their teams for their efforts in producing the zero-draft outcome document of 2019 ECOSOC Financing for Development, and for conveying today's informal meeting.

3. The Group of 77 and China would like to assure you that the group will engage constructively in this very important process on the basis of the G77 position paper. We wish to highlight that due to the fact that the zero draft was issued late in the afternoon of last Friday, additional time is required for internal deliberation of the Group; therefore, the group, at this moment, would like to reserve its position on the whole text, and will bring detailed proposals, and substantive comments in the coming reading.

4. The Group would like to reiterate its commitment to engage constructively throughout the important process towards a consensus-based action oriented outcome document encompassing all action areas of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). We appreciate that the zero draft of the outcome document is short, and concise text, which could be a good basis for negotiations. The Group believes that this year's outcome document should build upon and go beyond previous agreements. The Group would like to stress that the document should be meaningful, sharp, and action-oriented outcome document for this very important process, which is one of the key issues for the developing countries. The FfD is the means of implementation for the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and we need a strong commitment to the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

5. Furthermore, we welcome the work of the Inter-Agency Task Force, whose recommendations and reports have become an important exercise in the coherence of the UN system on financing issues.

6. As the process moves forward, we emphasize the need to highlight many elements and components reflected throughout the IATF Report, such as the importance to focus on the challenges faced by countries in special and vulnerable situations, we will provide specific language in this regards during the coming reading.

7. On the procedure, at this point, the Group would like to seek some clarifications on the process of negotiations ahead; and in particular, how do you foresee the upcoming process, and how do you plan to proceed in the upcoming informal meetings scheduled on Wednesday and Friday for the first para by para reading?

8. These are the Group's initial general remarks, and we will provide more substantive views and concrete proposals when we start the first para by para reading of the text.

9. We look forward to a successful and meaningful process, and once again, the Group reiterates its commitment to engage constructively in this important process, with the goal of a short, concise, meaningful and action oriented negotiated outcome document that will ensure that no country or person is left behind.

I thank you.