Excellencies, Co-Chairs,

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

2. At the outset, the Group wishes to express its appreciation to the Co-Chairs for convening this important discussion and for the informative briefing held on 25 November, which provided valuable insights into this important topic. The Group further extends its gratitude to the panelists for their insightful presentations and valuable contributions.

3. On the Mandate Implementation Review process under the UN80 Initiative, we would like to highlight preliminarily the following core principles:

First, this process must remain fully Member-State-led. From mandate creation to delivery and review, the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations must be preserved. Secretariat support should remain neutral and procedural, ensuring that negotiated language and the original intent of mandates are upheld.

Second, we see broad recognition of the need to strengthen mandate design from the outset. Mandates should be clear, focused, and realistic, supported by appropriate resource planning and early coordination with the Secretariat. Enhanced capacity-building, including mandate registry and templates for mandate drafting, would contribute to improving the quality and impact of future mandates.

Third, noting the growing administrative burden in terms of meetings and reports which does not always translate into improved outcomes, measures such as consolidating reports, adjusting periodicity where appropriate, and improving the analytical quality of mandated outputs could be considered. This would free up valuable resources and enhance delivery. However, such measures should be considered on a case by case basis, and should be undertaken only with the consent of all Member States.

Fourth, improving mandate implementation requires stronger coherence, coordination, and oversight across the UN system. More aligned programmatic delivery and more efficient use of resources will be essential to achieving concrete results on the ground. Moreover, the continued relevance of mandates should not be determined by their age.

4. We also acknowledge the potential for technology, including AI, to support information management and streamline administrative processes, while ensuring strict safeguards, Member State oversight, and protection of agreed language.

5. In conclusion, the review must avoid the path of the 2006 exercise. Nor should our deliberations duplicate ongoing revitalization discussions in the main committees. Instead, our efforts should be forward looking, objective, and balanced across all three pillars of the United Nations in line with the purposes of the UN Charter, ensuring that decisions remain firmly with Member States and that ongoing priorities, especially those of developing countries, are safeguarded, recalling as well that there is no "one size fits all" approach. We must uphold the general rule that UNGA resolutions remain valid until they are fully implemented.

6. The Group of 77 and China stands ready to engage constructively in this process, with a view to ensuring that mandates remain fit for purpose, that resources are used effectively, and that the priorities of developing countries are fully reflected and advanced.

I thank you.