Madam Chair,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. The Group would like to thank Mr. Chandru Ramanathan, the Assistant Secretary-General, and Controller, for his presentation on the financial situation of the United Nations, delivered on 9 May 2025.

3. The Group carefully reviewed the Secretary-General report contained in document A/79/521/Add.1 on the financial situation of the Organization.

4. The Group notes with concern that the Organization continues to face serious liquidity challenges, particularly with its regular budget, due to unpredictable and delayed payments by Member States. As of April 2025, collections were at their lowest in seven years, forcing the Organization to rely heavily on internal borrowing from reserve funds and closed tribunals.

5. Regarding peacekeeping operations, which follow a different fiscal cycle, the Group also notes that the Organization faces similar constraints. Despite a total of $4.6 billion collected by April 2025, $2.7 billion remains outstanding, including substantial arrears for active and closed missions

Madam Chair,

6. The Group of 77 and China reiterates that the Organization's ability to meet its financial obligations is entirely dependent on the timely and full payment of assessed contributions by Member States.

7. In this regards, The Group expresses deep concern over the high arrears of one single largest contributor, which have significantly aggravated the organization's liquidity constraints. It is especially troubling that this Member State is currently responsible for over half of all unpaid assessments to both the regular and peacekeeping budgets, despite its capacity to pay.

This is all the more concerning in the current context of mounting financial pressures. The continued withholding of contributions for political reasons, particularly by a Member State that already benefits from a structural imbalance in the Organization's financial architecture and enjoys entrenched privileges within the Security Council, undermines the principles of multilateralism and collective responsibility.

8. The Group further reaffirms that no barriers should hinder Member States from fulfilling their financial responsibilities to the Organization. All necessary steps must be taken to support and enable timely payments, particularly in view of the Organization's recurring liquidity challenges.

9. The Group urges all Member States in a position to do so to honour their legal obligations by paying their assessed contributions in full, on time, and without conditions. Political considerations must not obstruct the financial stability of the Organization.

10. We emphasize that sound and predictable financing is essential for the Organization to carry out its mandates effectively. The Group expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made tangible efforts to reduce their outstanding contributions, notwithstanding the significant financial pressures many continue to face.

11. At the same time, we remain empathetic to the situations of Member States that are genuinely unable to meet their obligations due to circumstances beyond their control.

12. Finally, despite bearing an increasingly disproportionate share of the organization's financial responsibilities, the Group of 77 and China remains committed to engaging constructively in efforts to resolve the current financial crises. We call on all partners to demonstrate similar resolve and accountability. Failure to do so will only weaken the Organization at a time when strong and responsive United Nations is needed more than ever.

I Thank you Madam Chair!