Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates,

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

For the Group of 77 and China, South-South Cooperation remains an essential component of the international development architecture, grounded in the principles of solidarity, equality, national sovereignty, national ownership, non-conditionality, non-interference in domestic affairs and mutual benefit. Over the past decades, it has evolved into an effective modality through which developing countries address shared challenges by exchanging knowledge, experiences, technologies, capacities and resources. It has also strengthened the self-reliance and leadership of countries of the South in pursuing sustained, inclusive and sustainable development, while remaining complementary to, and not a substitute for, North-South cooperation.

The Second United Nations High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation, held in Buenos Aires in 2019, marked an important milestone in reaffirming the international community's commitment to South-South and triangular cooperation. Its outcome document reaffirmed the need to strengthen institutional capacities, promote innovative and demand-driven modalities of cooperation, including triangular cooperation, and mobilize adequate financial and technical resources to support developing countries in addressing persistent and emerging development challenges. In this context, the Group of 77 and China welcomes the initiation of the review process of the BAPA+40 outcome document, which should be inclusive, transparent, participatory and Member State-driven, with a view to assessing implementation, identifying best practices and challenges, and defining practical recommendations to guide the next phase of South-South and triangular cooperation through 2030 and beyond.

The Group welcomes the opportunity to provide its views on the possible modalities, outcome, timing and preparatory process for the review of the BAPA+40 outcome document. In this regard, the Group emphasizes that any review process must be Member State-driven, inclusive, transparent and respectful of the principles, priorities and ownership of developing countries.

As per Question 1 (format, participation and venue), the Group supports the convening of a high-level intergovernmental meeting with the representation of all Member States and observers of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations system and specialized agencies, international and regional financial institutions, and representatives of relevant stakeholders.

The format could include an opening segment, a plenary segment, multi-stakeholder thematic discussions and a closing segment. The opening segment would include the participation of senior United Nations officials, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation and representatives of Member States.

The plenary segment would allow Member States, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations entities and relevant organizations to present progress achieved, lessons learned and remaining challenges in the implementation of BAPA+40.

The multi-stakeholder thematic discussions would address priority areas of South-South and triangular cooperation; and the closing segment would be devoted to the presentation of key findings and recommendations, as well as the adoption of an agreed outcome document or political declaration.

With regard to the venue, the Group considers that the meeting could be convened either at United Nations Headquarters in New York or in a Member State willing to host the review. In the current context, including the discussions on programme and budgetary implications (PBI)convening the meeting in New York may offer advantages in terms of cost efficiency, participation and accessibility for delegations. The final decision on the venue should be taken in consultation with the Bureau of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, Member States and the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, taking into account inclusivity, cost efficiency, logistical feasibility and political visibility.

The meeting could be held over a period of two to three days, in line with established practice for meetings of this nature. Participation should be open to all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies that have observer status with the General Assembly, in accordance with the relevant rules and practices of the General Assembly.

As per Question 2 (outcome), the Group believes that the review should result in the adoption of a political declaration or an action-oriented outcome document with recommendations and measurable targets. Such an outcome should reaffirm the continued relevance of South-South and triangular cooperation as important means for advancing sustainable development, eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, and supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The document should reaffirm the commitments contained in BAPA+40 and provide recommendations to guide the next phase of implementation through 2030 and beyond.

As per Question 3 (timing and preparatory process), the Group considers that the review could be tentatively scheduled during the eighty-first or eighty-second session of the General Assembly, subject to consultations among Member States. The timing should be carefully chosen to ensure broad participation and to avoid overlap with other major United Nations meetings.

In particular, the review should not be scheduled in close proximity to the 23rd Session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation (HLC), scheduled to take place from 1 to 4 June 2027, in order to allow the HLC to feed into the preparatory process of the review.

The Group further emphasizes the importance of a preparatory process that is inclusive, transparent, substantive and Member State-led. Such a process should include informal consultations under the guidance of the co-facilitators, as well as preparatory meetings to allow delegations to exchange views. The preparatory process could also benefit from regional consultations organized in collaboration with the United Nations regional commissions, thematic dialogues on priority areas, and consultations with relevant stakeholders and experts, as appropriate. These preparatory activities should ensure the meaningful participation of developing countries and should reflect their diverse national circumstances, priorities and development needs.

I thank you.