Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

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

As this is the first time the Group is taking the floor in this Segment, we stress the need for enhanced* engagement and inclusive consultations with all Member States in preparations for future segments, with a further emphasis on the diverse perspectives and development challenges faced by programme countries.

Mr. Vice President, through you I wish to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report and for his briefing today on the Implementation of General Assembly Resolution 79/226 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system (QCPR).

Mr. Secretary-General over the years you have never failed to speak truth to the current situations we are facing and for calling for urgent accelerated action. Sadly, these seem to fall on deaf ears, as year after year conditions seem to be getting worse. This year as we meet, multilateralism is hanging on a very thin thread, as many countries turn inward. We see a further decline for matters as they relate to the development pillar. We are witnessing a reversal of so many of our commitments and obligations under the various frameworks and instruments in the economic, social and environmental fields, which we know are detrimental for the majority of the world.

We were at the cusp of moving away from repositioning the UN development system and moving towards delivery of services on the ground. However, now with the further shrinking of development finances we are back to the discussion of reshaping the system, meanwhile more and more people are falling into extreme poverty, countries are grappling with high indebtedness with no opportunities to compete in a fair trade and economic market, a reduction in ODA, significant cutback in aid assistance and increasing inequalities.

Mr. Vice President,

The Secretary-General's report tells us some starling statistics on the state of development in developing countries. The numbers should be of gravest concern to all of us. Within five years we will be at our 2030 deadline, and from here if we continue along the path we are on we will be extremely off track to meeting our goals and targets. Additionally, the current geopolitical environment only seems to steer us in the opposite direction to meeting our commitments.

As the UN turns 80 this year it is time for us to really examine what we have achieved, what have we been able to address concerning development challenges. Let us not make it another opportunity to rename and repackage the same old things at a higher cost, hoping for a different outcome. We need to understand the why and the why nots and to figure out durable and sustainable solutions. This can only be achieved through a united international community that is prepared through multilateralism and diplomacy to extend the level of solidarity and cooperation to leapfrog those who are furthest behind and to make sustainable pathways for others.

Developing countries are prepared to do their part, however, this must be in addition to developed countries' contributions. All reforms from here on must further include the input, participation and representation of developing countries.

Mr. Vice President,

The Group appreciates the efforts of the Secretary-General on efficiency gains. We continue to see the benefits of having a more coordinated and collaborated UN development system. We believe that more can be done in this era of digitalization to enhance and tighten this coordination and collaboration. We therefore call on all the entities of the UN development system to continue their cooperation with the Secretary-general in this regard.

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Secretary-General, Development must remain the ECOSOC OAS focus, the eradication of poverty in all its form and dimensions has to remain the guiding light of the development agenda. Therefore, the UN development system and in particular the Resident Coordinator system must continue to have a development focus. The Resident Coordinators must continue to be empowered, including through the strengthening of the Resident Coordinators system, to fulfill their function as UN development coordinators on the ground building on the achievements made thus far under the repositioning of the UNDS. The UN development system must respond to their call, which would afford them the opportunity in times of emergencies and crises to tap into the relevant entities and expertise, and to be able to work and collaborate with them to resolve the challenge to return the focus to development.

Addressing development challenges require patience, consistency and a sustained attention and resources. There are no one size fit all to development nor or there any quick fixes. Therefore, sustained investment both in time and resources are required, if we are to make longstanding, resilient and sustainable impact on development challenges.

Mr. Vice President , Mr. Secretary-General,

We as the international community can no longer go about business as usual: when we have approximately 2.8 billion people live below the extreme poverty line, with some 750 million people facing hunger, 2.33 billion experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity and 193 million malnourished children; when there are 2.6 billion people offline; when 251 million children are out of school; 3.8 billion people still lacking any form of social protection; when temperature rise is projected to be 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius by the end of this century; when more and more countries are becoming highly indebted; to highlight a few matters.

The Group believes we, as the international community, have what it takes to make this a better world for present and future generations, all we have to do is make it happen.

I thank you.