Distinguished Co-facilitators,

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

2. The Group would like to express its appreciation to the co-facilitators for convening today's informal consultation. The Group acknowledges the efforts of the co-facilitators in producing the note of the co-facilitators along with the two annexes. It is a long document and the Group will require additional time for internal deliberations.

3. The Group would like to restate that the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is of utmost importance for developing countries. It is crucial that this alignment process leads to the comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with special focus on the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, which remains the overarching priority. At the same time, this process must bear in mind that the UN and its agenda is broader than the 2030 Agenda, and that the UN development issues, activities and programs will go far beyond the year 2030, which is the deadline for the Agenda. Therefore, we believe it is imperative to look at the bigger picture, throughout this process.
        
4. The Group reiterates its strong conviction on the critical need to genuinely address gaps and targets that remain uncovered by the General Assembly, and the ECOSOC agenda. In this regard, emerging and relevant issues could give rise to new agenda items for the work of the General Assembly if not ECOSOC and other relevant bodies. The indivisible nature of Agenda 2030 makes it imperative, and urgent to ensure equal attention and consideration to all goals and targets of the SDGs, aiming at the successful implementation of the Agenda in its entirety.

5. The Group stresses that any exercise regarding overlapping must safeguard and strengthen the United Nations Development System, while recalling that the revitalization process should address gaps and duplications in a balanced way. In this regard, we reaffirm that duplication does not necessarily mean repetition, and overlaps should be studied on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration specific mandates and perspectives of UN organs.

6. The Group reaffirms the ownership and leadership of Member States in this exercise at both the GA and the ECOSOC. The primary responsibility remains that of States to decide on the action to be taken on the agenda. The Group believes that this constructive process should be inclusive, taking into consideration the view of the universal membership of the United Nations, safeguarding the rights of all States. This consultation process should take into account the perspectives of all Committees of the General Assembly, thus we would like to stress that this exercise of addressing overlapping and avoiding duplication should not only focus on the work and agenda items belonging only to the Second Committee.

Distinguished Co-facilitators,

7. On the possible way forward, the Group welcomes the co-facilitators plan to convene informal-informal meetings at the expert level between the sessions of the informal consultations to give more space and time for in-depth discussion on this process. However, it is important first to identify at which point this process should start, and how can we improve the methodologies.

8. The Group believes that the alignment process requires further consultations, full and thorough discussions among Member States, and emphasizes that no timeframe should be set for the process.

9. Finally, the Group assures you of its support and commitment to engage constructively in this consultation process.

I thank you.