STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. ABDULLAH ABUSHAWESH, COUNSELLOR AT THE MISSION OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE TO THE UN, AT THE ADOPTION OF THE GA RESOLUTION ON THE "NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT: PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT" (New York, 10 September 2019)

Madame President,

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honor to introduce to the General Assembly the draft resolution entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", as contained in document (A/73/L.96/Rev.1).

The resolution highlights the progress made by African countries in the implementation of its various programs and projects supported by development partners. The NEPAD resolution provides an insight into how far Africa has come since the last resolution was passed by the General Assembly and places the spotlight firmly on those areas which need support in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. In many ways it is a record, year-on-year, of what Africa is achieving.

The draft resolution also reaffirms the importance of international support in development. Progress in development and support for development, are two vital aspects that ensure the implementation of the ambitious objectives of the 2030 Agenda. They are linked to the African Union's Agenda 2063 and, we believe, will ultimately empower our continent and its people to eradicate poverty. May I take this opportunity to recall that the Agenda 2063 sets out the blueprint for development in Africa until the year 2063, and that it is divided into 10-year Implementation Plans. The NEPAD, and this resolution speak directly to this development nexus.

This year, in the drafting process of the text, we have seen a greater openness to streamline the text and to render it more focused. Further, the Group was interested to reflect the most important updates, including the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in November 2018 to change the New Partnership Planning and Coordinating Agency into the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development, also the entry into force on 30 May 2019 of the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area.

A strengthened and positive balance between the actions by African governments and the support of the international community was maintained in the resolution. In this regard, there is a necessity to stress on the role of the international community in addressing the special development needs of the continent.

Instead of support for this important balance, we have, unfortunately seen what can only be regarded as deliberate attempts to significantly weaken this resolution that used to be adopted by consensus from 2002 until last year. The Group believes such an approach is contrary to the sentiments outlined in the Agenda 2030, which perfectly complements the African Union Agenda 2063. This draft resolution seeks to accentuate the coherence and coordinated implementation of both agendas. They must be seen within a single context.

I would like to add, however, that we would have liked to see more on the concerns related to official development assistance to Africa and particularly Africa's disproportionately low share of the international trade volume.

Another area that has been highlighted are explicit examples of progress, in particular through collaborations among African countries to promote innovative public-private partnerships for financing of infrastructure projects. We hope that this aspect will not be watered down in future resolutions. The Group hopes to see a strengthening of such examples which prove that Africa as a whole is on the right path.

The Group's fundamental objective with this resolution and others is to be able to reach consensus. The Group is gravely concerned, that a resolution aimed at enhancing Africa's sustainable development, and which demonstrates progress being made in Africa, is being subjected to a vote in the General Assembly of the United Nations. We call on all member states to vote in favor of this resolution.

Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the representatives of Benin, Egypt and Sierra Leone for their commendable roles as coordinators on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I would also like to thank the representative of Algeria for his role in facilitating the consultations on the draft resolution and his outstanding outreach to present a text that is well - balanced to be considered for adoption.

Before I conclude, allow me to make an oral revision in paragraph 46 of the draft resolution. In the sixth line, after "national priorities and plans", replace the coma by a semicolon and delete "and that" before "South-South Cooperation". I repeat, in paragraph 46, in the sixth line, after "national priorities and plans", replace the coma by a semicolon and delete "and that" before "South-South Cooperation". This oral revision is to stick to the exact language of the text put under silence procedure by the facilitator from Algeria. Editors have slightly modified this part of the text, which was subject to sensitive negotiations and careful drafting.

I wish also to express my thanks to all delegations for their constructive commitment and participation, as well as the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa for its support throughout the entire consultation process.

Thank you.