Mr. President,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on Agenda Item 6(b): Review and Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.

2. The Group would like to thank the Secretary-General for the annual report on this item. The report before us provides us a mixed picture of progress in the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action as well as the constraints encountered in that regard.

Mr. President,

3. Given the fact that this year marks the end of the decade of the Brussels Programme of Action, the Group remains deeply concerned at the uneven and insufficient progress in achieving the targets the implementation of the Programme of Action especially with respect to alleviating poverty, combating hunger, achieving gender equality and reducing maternal mortality, among others. The global financial, oil, food and climate change crises have clearly undermined the development in the countries in the LDCs. We also remain deeply concerned that the number of people living in extreme poverty continues to remain alarmingly high in the LDCs. The Group remains convinced that the internationally agreed development goals (IADGs), including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), can be effectively achieved in the LDCs through the timely fulfillment of the development partners commitments.

Mr. President,

4. The Secretary-General's report highlights the importance role of agriculture in LDCs, as it is the largest sector of employment and contributor to the economy. Improving the agriculture sector in LDCs faces with multiple challenges. It lacks irrigation, scientific tools and technology, seeds and fertilizer and it is far short of investment, institutions and integrated farm management system. This ends in low productivity and ultimately causes hunger and poverty. In this regard, we are deeply concerned with the agricultural subsidy in developed countries which has created unequal playing field for the products of LDCs. We want early conclusion of the Doha Development Round of trade negotiations for creating non-distorted, non-discriminatory, and equitable market that can promote agricultural and rural development and contribute to world food security. We, therefore, repeat our call for enhanced productive capacity of LDCs, particularly in the agriculture sector, and for greater investment in physical infrastructure and technological development.

5. The G-77 and China expresses its appreciations for the ongoing work by the UN system, particularly, the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, for the preparations for the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries to be held in Istanbul in 2011. The Conference will make a thorough review of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action and for defining a new generation of ambitious, comprehensive, targeted and results-oriented support measures to establish a new partnership between the least developed countries and their development partners for the next decade, with effective arrangements for follow-up, review and monitoring of the implementation of the new programme of action for the least developed countries.

Thank you, Mr. President.