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 for your work as Co-facilitators to lead the consultation process aimed at enhancing synergies and coherence between the work of the General Assembly and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We also thank you for convening today's informal-informal consultation at the expert level.

3. Due to the other ongoing processes and High-Level meetings, the Group, regrettably, still didn't have the chance to conduct an in-depth discussion on the two annexes provided by the co-facilitators, however, we believe that the mapping exercise lead by Colombia in 2016 reflected important advances in identifying gaps of the 2030 Agenda and should be taken into account, as a basis for discussion in this process.

4. We reaffirm that the full and comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda is the most relevant issue for developing countries. It is of the highest importance for the Group that this alignment process leads to a comprehensive coverage of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals and targets, recalling the overarching priority of eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

5. In this regards, the Group reiterates its strong conviction on the critical need to genuinely address gaps, and targets that remain uncovered under the General Assembly, and the ECOSOC agenda. In this connection, we should consider serious discussions to create new agenda items where deem appropriate and necessary to give those goals and targets a placement to be followed-up and reviewed.

6. The Group further reiterates that duplication does not necessarily mean repetition; overlaps should be studied in a case by case basis, taking into consideration specific mandates and perspectives, and should examine new emerging issues related to sustainable development.

7. The Group also believes that this exercise should be carried out to consider where synergies could be made, and enhanced to ensure coherence, in a substantive and result-oriented manner, in the United Nations system, while preserving and strengthening the specific mandate of relevant UN organs. We should also bear in mind that although the 2030 Agenda put forward a remarkable work program, the activities of United Nations development bodies encompass programs that will go further than 2030.

8. The Group reaffirms that this constructive process should be inclusive, taking into consideration the view of the universal membership of the United Nations. In this regard, we stress that it is ultimately Member States that have the primary responsibility to decide on the action to be taken on this agenda, ownership should remain in the hands of the States, safeguarding the sovereign rights of all States. In the same regard, this consultation process should take into account the perspectives of all Committees of the General Assembly.

Distinguished Co-facilitators,

9. In closing, the Group reiterates that no time frame should be set for this process, since it requires thorough and comprehensive consultations among Member States.

10. The G77 and China reaffirms its full support and commitment to engage constructively in this consultation process.

I thank you.