Madam Chairperson,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. Climate Change is a universal threat that respects no borders in time or space. Our people are suffering, even as we speak now. Our societies' developmental prospects are at stake, their very existence is jeopardized. Indeed, it's a matter of life and death for many of countries. Therefore, the urgency of the climatic situation dictates that we move expeditiously to contain an ever-growing threat that will overwhelm us all.

3. It is incumbent upon all of us, particularly the developed countries given their historical responsibility, to address climate change within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. To do so, we must adhere to the provisions and principles of the Convention, in particular the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

4. In our opening statement, we stressed the fact that time is running short and that we need to progress and move forward in our work here in Tianjin. The Group, therefore, engaged constructively, with a great sense of urgency, in the process of our negotiations.

5. The Group of 77 and China argued for a comprehensive set of decisions at Cancun. We stressed that these decisions must be in line with the Bali Action plan, covering all its elements; that a balance between the two negotiating tracks must be respected and the balance in decisions within each track must be maintained; and that what ever outcome we reach in Cancun must not compromise the overall objective of a comprehensive ambitious and legally binding outcome.

6. We just finished our last session before the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Cancun later this year. We must now, however, approach Cancun full of hope and determination to do more. While it is true that we have to be pragmatic and realistic in our approach, we, nevertheless, should persist in our ambitions. And in this vein the Group of 77 and China has sought, by negotiating in good faith notwithstanding impediments, to achieve concrete steps necessary for the edifice of a comprehensive and legally binding outcome.

7. Rest assured, Madam Chairperson, that the Group of 77 and China will spare no effort in supporting you and moving the process forward. We are approaching Cancun full of hope and desire to make it a success with an aim of reaching an outcome that serves the interests of humanity.

I thank you.