Distinguished Ministers,
Mr. Under-Secretary-General,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the Group of 77 and China for the invitation to today's ceremony and congratulate Ambassador Benmehidi on his new role as Chairman.

It is a particular honour for me to address this dynamic and vital group in my new capacity as the President of the Economic and Social Council for 2012. I would like to express my great appreciation to the Members of the Group for your confidence and trust in my leadership of the Council.

Over the past year, under the presidency of Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, ECOSOC was able to improve its relevance and visibility by responding nimbly to a number of global challenges and debates.

The Bureau was also given a critical opportunity to improve upon its performance through the review of the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 61/16 on the strengthening of ECOSOC.

I can assure you that the current Bureau and I remain committed to carrying forward the progress made in 2011 and responding to the recommendations made by Member States in regard to ECOSOC's role and working methods.
In doing so this year, I look forward to strengthening the relationship between ECOSOC and the Group of 77 and China, based on the shared principles of solidarity, equality, inclusion and cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year marks an important turning point for the Economic and Social Council, if not the United Nations as a whole.
In June, we will gather in Rio de Janeiro to pick up a conversation that began 20 years ago concerning the need for a global transition to sustainable development. As a separate but not unrelated process to Rio+20, the groundwork is presently being laid by DESA and UNDP for international consultations on the post-2015 development framework.

Although we do not yet know the outcomes of these two processes - nor how they will relate to one another - it is my belief that the Economic and Social Council should be at the centre of policy dialogue and coordination in regard to these two important issues.

I do not propose ECOSOC for this role based simply on a personal preference. Under the UN Charter, ECOSOC is designated as the central organ for policy formulation and coordination on economic, social and other related issues.
Throughout the Council's history, its centrality to the global economic and social discussions has depended on its ability to show intellectual leadership quickly and effectively as new and emerging issues developed.

Let us make 2012 the year for consolidating the working methods and institutional structures necessary for enabling ECOSOC to lead on its original mandate as the centre of new thinking and coordinated action on economic and social development. More specifically, we must ensure that the outcomes that emerge from Rio+20 and throughout the deliberations on the post-2015 development agenda give ECOSOC a prominent role in the follow-up and monitoring of these processes.

As I said yesterday in my opening statement to the Council "I strongly believe that ECOSOC is well placed and well equipped to become the central place for follow-up to Rio+20. No other body, whether existing or new, has the wherewithal for integrating the economic, social and environmental pillars".

Otherwise, we will have missed an opportunity that has been years in the making.

I would also like to mention briefly two key functions happening in New York in July through which ECOSOC can show its intellectual leadership on global development challenges.

The first of these is the Annual Ministerial Review, which will convene ministers and thought leaders to discuss importance of jobs for poverty eradication, the achievement of the MDGs and equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. This will allow ECOSOC to put a spotlight on economic growth models that promote job creation, are sustainable, inclusive and equitable and can be tailored to the particular needs of countries, while promoting also social protection and rights at work.
The second key function in July is the Development Cooperation Forum. As 2015 draws near, all international development actors need to join forces to improve the quality and results of development cooperation to achieve the MDGs and ensure a promising post-2015 development framework. This will facilitate ECOSOC's role as a global forum for frank and results-oriented discussion and knowledge-sharing on new trends and good practices in international development cooperation.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Council increasingly depends on the engagement and leadership of the Group of 77 and China in responding to the challenges of the day, whether the debate is about new modes of global economic governance, innovations in promoting socio-economic well-being or successful sustainable development pathways

I look forward to your continued engagement and a deepened partnership with the Group in 2012 as we enhance the role and effectiveness of the Economic and Social Council in response to new global trends and challenges.

Thank you.