Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished colleagues,

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

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and the Bureau of the Second Committee, for convening this first dialogue to exchange general views on the roadmap and its focus areas, as well as the consultation process and the expected outcome.

As this is the first of the series of dialogues, the group believes that this process be anchored in the right principles and proper framing, ensuring that everyone is on the same page as to why we are here and what we want to achieve.
In that sense, the Groups would like to share the following general views:

1. First, the Group reaffirms that the Revitalization process must be Member State-driven and guided by intergovernmental consensus, consistent with upholding the inalienable right of delegations to table proposals; and emphasizes the need for open, transparent, and inclusive negotiations, providing adequate time for text-based line by line negotiations, in accordance with established Second Committee practice.

2. Second, we reaffirm that the main purpose of the revitalization process is to strengthen the work of the Committee, enhance international development, and accelerate the implementation of development commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a primary focus on the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions. The core focus of the Committee must remain on development.

It is therefore important that the process takes into consideration how improvements in the Committee would serve the needs of the developing countries.

3. Third, while recognizing the complementarity and interlinkages of this process with the review of ECOSOC and HLPF, and the UN80 initiative, each one responds to different mandates and objectives and should not be used as a pretext for weakening the role of the Second Committee. In this regard, the Group highlights the importance of ensuring that the Second Committee revitalization process remains coherent and faithful to its specific mandate, thereby maintaining the independence of the process.

4. Fourth, the revitalization process represents a unique opportunity to assess comprehensively and holistically the status quo to find areas of convergence, conduct an honest and realistic diagnosis of the work of the Committee, noting what has been working, and where improvements are needed to make the Committee more fit for purpose and improve the effectiveness and impact of its work, taking into account national priorities and realities.

Regarding the Roadmap and focus areas:

1. Broadly, the Group is supportive of the existing roadmap and focus areas as prepared by the Bureau. We trust the wisdom of the Bureau in designing the whole process, and we believe that the process should look generally at the same areas as the 2021 revitalization process.

2. The Group considers it important to provide an opportunity for delegations to submit Element Papers, with proposals for the outcome document, prior to the circulation of the Zero Draft. We, therefore, call on the Bureau to provide sufficient time for this purpose and ensure an orderly and predictable drafting process

Finally, regarding the expected outcome and consultation process:

1. First, the Group calls for a regular and predictable schedule of informal consultations, and for sufficient time between informal consultations to allow Groups and delegations to consult on the new proposals. This will help to achieve a high quality and consensual outcomes.

2. Second, the Group considers the outcome document should have a form of a consensus draft decision to be submitted by the Bureau, reflecting the collective views of Member States.

3. Third, we reiterate that the informal consultations on the draft outcome should follow the text-based line by line negotiations and we emphasize that overlap with other negotiation processes should be avoided.

Mr. Chair,

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms the great value in the exchange of views that are frank and constructive and aimed at enhancing the work of the Second Committee. We commend you for this effort and reiterate our commitment to engaging fully and constructively in ensuring that the work of the Second Committee is conducted efficiently and effectively, with greater impact and relevance to its intended purpose.

I thank you.