Mr. President,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

2. The Group congratulates ECOSOC on eight decades of service to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. This milestone stands as a testament to the enduring importance of multilateral cooperation in advancing international economic and social development. In this regard, we reaffirm that the principles of the UN Charter-sovereign equality, solidarity, and shared responsibility-remain as relevant today as ever.

3. Established by the Charter of the United Nations in 1945 as one of the Organization's principal organs, ECOSOC was conceived as a forum to advance international cooperation in the economic, social, and related fields. For eight decades, the Council has provided a universal platform for dialogue, coordination, and partnership among Member States and stakeholders, reflecting the shared commitment of the international community to promote social progress, improve standards of living, and foster inclusive and sustainable development in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter.

4. Since its establishment, ECOSOC has served as a central pillar of international economic and social cooperation. As we mark this anniversary, the Group reiterates that sustainable development must remain at the heart of the United Nations system, with the eradication of poverty as its overarching priority.

5. The Group reaffirms its unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law, firmly anchored in the UN Charter. As we commemorate "ECOSOC at 80", we emphasize that our collective efforts must strengthen the unity, inclusivity, and effectiveness of the multilateral system in responding to global challenges.

6. Today's world is confronted with multiple and interlinked crises, including climate change, persistent poverty and inequality, mounting debt burdens, significant gaps in financing for development, rapid technological transformations, widening disparities in global governance and the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures. The Group stresses that these challenges cannot be addressed unilaterally or by a select few, but require collective action and shared responsibility.
 
7. In pursuit of a more equitable, just, and sustainable world, the Group underscores that development must be placed at the core of all reform processes. ECOSOC, the High-Level Political Forum, and other intergovernmental platforms must be adequately empowered to deliver on the 2030 Agenda in a fully inclusive, transparent, and Member State-driven manner, recognizing that developing countries continue to face structural impediments to its full implementation.

8. The Group reiterates its support for the UN80 Initiative and its objectives of enhancing efficiency, coherence, and responsiveness across the UN system. At the same time, we stress that reform efforts must not undermine development mandates, institutional expertise, or equitable geographical representation across all pillars of the United Nations.

9. The Group underscores the importance of the full, timely, and unconditional payment of assessed contributions by all Member States, as well as the need for predictable, adequate, and sustainable financing for development programmes, to enable ECOSOC and the UN system as a whole to effectively fulfil their mandates.

10. The Group calls for the further strengthening of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, capacity-building, technology transfer, and inclusive partnerships that leave no one behind. In this regard, we emphasize the central role of international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation as key enablers of sustainable development.

11. In this context, the Group of 77 and China reiterates that the United Nations was founded on the ideals of peace, cooperation for development and human dignity, and must continue to uphold multilateralism, equality among nations, and shared progress for all peoples.

12. ECOSOC at 80 is not merely a commemoration of the past, but a call to renewed and strengthened action. Let us honour the vision of the founders of the United Nations by recommitting to solidarity, equality, and cooperation, and by working collectively towards a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future for all.

13. Lastly and in this same vein, the Group of 77 and China commits to engage constructively in the review process on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and on the high-level political forum on sustainable development and the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level, with a view to enhancing this Council's effectiveness and leadership in shaping global economic and social cooperation.

I thank you.