At the outset, I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Turkmenistan for the warm hospitality and excellent organization of this important Conference, as well as to the relevant departments of the United Nations for their dedicated efforts in supporting its successful convening. We also thank the Conference Preparatory Committee bureau members, under the able leadership of the distinguished Co-Chairs, the Permanent Representatives of Mongolia and Austria, for their valued contributions and stewardship of this process. Furthermore, we extend our gratitude to the delegation of Botswana for its leadership in negotiating the Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024-2034, just adopted by the General Assembly on behalf of the G77 and China.

Excellencies,

With the adoption of this tailored Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), representing 32 Member States that face unique development challenges due to their landlocked status, we are reminded of the urgent need to address their particular development priorities. Even though this Programme of Action goes beyond the 2030 Agenda, action must begin today to ensure that LLDCs are not left behind, and that the implementation of this Programme provides the guidance and support required in this regard.

LLDCs' geographical remoteness, multiple border crossings, lengthy transit procedures, insufficient logistical systems, and inadequate infrastructure continue to generate significantly higher transport and trade transaction costs compared to other countries. This imposes a heavy burden that constrains economic growth, undermines sustainable development efforts, and impedes the achievement of national development goals. It is in this spirit that we reaffirm the commitment of the international community, as first recognized by the General Assembly during its 28th Session, to take special measures in addressing the unique needs of LLDCs.

Excellencies,

The G77 and China fully supports this ambitious Programme of Action, which provides LLDCs with the necessary tools to address their development challenges, including those arising from remoteness, limited productive capacities and connectivity, inadequate funding, high debt burdens, commodity price volatility, and the growing threats of climate change, biodiversity loss, and disasters. We firmly believe that strengthened partnerships, at bilateral, regional, and international levels, will be essential in enabling LLDCs to overcome these constraints and accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The Group underlines the importance of building the productive capacities of LLDCs, promoting value addition and export diversification, and advancing up global value chains. Equally, it is crucial to intensify industrialization efforts and harness science, technology, and innovation to unleash their full potential.

The G77 and China calls for the full implementation of all previous commitments to support LLDCs in overcoming their challenges. We urge for enhanced and scaled-up support, including predictable financing and technical cooperation. We stress that developed countries have a special responsibility to provide the means of implementation, and we call upon them to honor both existing and new commitments.

We also recognize with gratitude the solidarity of countries of the South, whose continued support within the framework of South-South Cooperation remains an essential pillar for advancing the development aspirations of LLDCs.

Excellencies,

In conclusion, the G77 and China reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the LLDCs and affirms its commitment to the full and effective implementation of this Programme of Action.

I thank you.

2. Given the limited time available to review the report, the Group is currently assessing its key findings and wishes to offer the following preliminary comments.

3. The Secretary-General's reform proposals should be aligned with all three foundational pillars of the United Nations (peace and security, development, and human rights) and that they aim to enhance mandate delivery in a cost-effective manner, while avoiding duplication and ensuring full adherence to intergovernmental mandates.

4. The Group reiterates that equitable geographical representation remains a core concern for the Group of 77 and China. In this context, we look forward to further clarification on the practical steps being taken under the UN80 Initiative to advance equitable geographical representation across the Organization.

5. The Group recalls its statement delivered on 24 June, in which it underscored the importance of enhancing mandate implementation without altering the substance of existing mandates. In this regard, the Group welcomed the development of a comprehensive online registry, beginning with a dashboard of relevant mandate source documents derived from the Programme Budget.

6. The Group also reiterates the central role of intergovernmental bodies, particularly the Fifth Committee, ACABQ, and CPC, in ensuring coherence across mandate implementation, programme planning, and budgetary allocations. We emphasize the importance of safeguarding the integrity and prioritization of mandates and encourage close coordination with relevant governing bodies in addressing implementation challenges.

I thank you.

At the outset, the Group thanks the President and Secretariat of the Economic and Social Council for the preparation of this year's High-Level Political Forum, which has thus far been a tremendous success.

The G77 and China extends its sincerest appreciation to Ambassador Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Ambassador Jakub Kulhánek, Permanent Representative of Czechia as Co-facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations and their respective team for their exceptional steering of the informal consultations. We particularly commend the Co-facilitators for upholding the intergovernmental nature of the informal consultations by continuing the practice of line-by-line negotiations in a transparent, open and inclusive manner, which resulted in the carefully balanced document we have before us today that I think has made us all equally happy and unhappy in different parts.

Mr. President,

The Group, being aware of the tight timeline to 2030 and the fact that most of the implementation of the SDGs are either off track or regressing, engaged constructively and in good faith throughout the negotiations with the sole objective to have a document that not only highlighted challenges but provided some direction for addressing them, particularly through means of implementation.

The Group decided to support the Ministerial Declaration under consideration, even though we believe many aspects could have been strengthened noting the many crises and challenges facing the Global South, which are having tremendous negative impacts to their efforts for sustainable development. We were disappointed by the attempts by some delegations to rewrite and weaken recently agreed commitments from the Compromiso de Seville, as well as the constant attempts to backtrack from principles contained within the 2030 Agenda, such as the principle of CBDR.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China is disappointed that this year's Ministerial Declaration could not be adopted by consensus, and notes with great concern that several of the areas being objected to are very much a part of our commitments and obligations enshrined in the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, which we all agreed upon and adopted in 2015, in an effort to leave no one behind.

In particular, the G77 and China expresses its disappointment that a vote has been called on paragraph 14, which undermines the commitment made by all our leaders in 2015 and increasingly threatens our collective commitment to achieve the 2030 Agenda. In this regard, the G77 and China urges all delegations to vote in favor of the retention of paragraph 14 and the whole Ministerial Declaration incase votes are requested. Despite this vote, the G77 and China wish to state that this verbatim language from the 2030 Agenda remains agreed and any attempts to change this shall not be accepted.

Mr. President,

The Group wishes to reiterate the main objective of the HLPF is to review and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, and with five more years to the realization of this sustainable development agenda, we need more than ever to start addressing the difficult matters, which are hindering progress in attaining the ambitious goals contained in the Agenda and its SDGs. These include the unilateral coercive measures, the right to development, the right to self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation, the need to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of States and the urgency to close the alarming financing gap and to provide the necessary means of implementation to developing countries on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

The HLPF, is not a forum to rewrite and rescript the 2030 Agenda nor its SDGs. It is a time for us to reflect on what is working and what is not working and how we can facilitate countries in their implementation of the SDGs and the Agenda as a whole.

Mr. President,

The countries of the Global South want an equal, fair and unhindered path to their sustainable development. We want to be a respected participant in the decision-making bodies. We need urgent and ambitious actions for the remaining 5 years. Let us commit to start today.

I thank you.