Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

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

From the onset, the Group takes this opportunity to thank the Co-Chairs of the intergovernmental process, the Permanent Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco and Belgium, for their steadfast leadership, tireless efforts and thoughtful guidance.

The Group conveys its sincere appreciation to the State of Qatar and its leadership for their generosity, warm hospitality and excellent arrangements, which have enriched our deliberations in this historic summit.

We have gathered today in Doha with hopeful anticipation that this historic summit will inspire concrete progress in the way nations advance the welfare and dignity for all people. As we approach 2030, the international community stands at a pivotal moment, one that calls for a resolve to translate our commitments into tangible outcomes in the lives of all our nations.

Though our paths and achievements differ, our shared aspiration for a more just and secure world that unites us. Let this summit be a step towards deeper cooperation and solidarity among nations in pursuit of that common vision. Against this back drop, the Group emphasizes the following:

First: from now on, we must redouble our collective efforts and place strong equal emphasize on the three pillars of social development to achieve the commitments we made 30 years ago. Addressing the gaps and inadequate means of implementation remains a pressing challenge. The principle of common but differentiated responsibility remains paramount, and international cooperation and solidarity are requirements to address those challenges.

Second: the Group underscores the urgent need to address persistent social development challenges, to reduce uncertainty, inequality and insecurity, by tackling their causes and consequences and respecting human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

Third: the Group welcomes the measures taken by Member States to promote gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and remain fully committed to mainstreaming a gender perspective into policies and programs related to their advancement and well-being.

Fourth: the Group is pleased that racism is a cross-cutting area in the text, highlighting the need to step up our efforts to fight against all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. However, it regrets that genuine progress in addressing this enduring scourge still falls behind the targeted aspirations.

Fifth: the Group stresses that migration is an enabler of development and recognizes the positive contributions of migrants to inclusive growth and sustainable development in countries of origin, transit and destination, while acknowledging the important nexus between international migration and social development.

Sixth: while technology has been an essential tool for addressing development needs, not everyone has equal access to its benefits. Therefore, the Group emphasizes the importance of taking significant action to reduce the growing digital divide.

Seventh: the Group underscores that social development cannot advance while many developing countries continue to face UCMs, which have direct and negative impacts on the wellbeing of their people. it reaffirms that such measures impede economic and social development, and reiterates the urgent need to eliminate these measures.

To conclude, the Group reaffirms its shared commitment to place people at the center of development. Let Doha mark a renewed resolve to act with unity, compassion and determination so the promises of today becomes a living reality for all, leaving no one behind.

I thank you.