Madam Chair,

1. The Group of 77 and China thanks the Secretariat for the preparation and presentations of the documents for our consideration under Agenda Item 23 (a) and (b).

2. First, on agenda Item 23 (a): Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries.
        
Madam Chair,

3. The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) continue to confront structural handicaps and constraints in their development efforts and remain highly vulnerable to external shocks due to lack of credible alternative means to withstand them. 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 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 development 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. In this regard, the G77 and China expresses its grave concern that, with just five years to go before 2015, the Least Developed Countries are lagging behind in meeting many of the MDG targets. We call on developed countries to honour the full, timely and effective implementation of all commitments related to the MDGs with special focus on accelerated delivery of existing MDG8 commitments to ensure that all the MDGs are attained by all LDCs by 2015.

Madam Chair,

4. The G-77 and China appreciates the efforts made to address the debt problem of LDCs, including through the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and, in this regard, we stress the need of the International Community to take effective measures, particularly through cancellation of multilateral and bilateral debts owed by LDCs to creditors. It is also a matter of concern that a number of HIPC countries have fallen into, or at high risk of, debt distress. The debt problems of non-HIPC LDCs have been further worsened due to multiple global crises. We call upon the BWIs to renew the extension of HIPC initiative to address the debt problems of LDCs, and to look for other alternatives to reduce the weight of their debt as a difficulty for their development.

5. The Group notes that duty-free and quota-free market access has not resulted in an increase of the share of Least Developed Countries exports in world trade, which remains marginal at less than 1 per cent. There has not been sufficient focus on raising productive capacities or on economic and export diversification.

Madam Chair,

6. 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 the Least Developed Countries to be convened in Istanbul, Turkey on 30 May-3 June 2011. The G-77 and China attaches the utmost importance to this Conference and stresses that it should undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA) for the Decade 2001-2010 as defined by various resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, and adopt an ambitious, comprehensive, forward-looking, targeted, and results-oriented programme of action for the Least Developed Countries for the next decade together with the provision of additional international support measures in favour of LDCs based on the scaled-up partnership for development and the effective arrangements for follow-up, review and monitoring of the implementation of the new programme of action.

Madam Chair,

7. Let me now turn to Agenda item 23(b), Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation.

8. According to the Secretary-General's report before us, the economies of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) grew at an average annual rate of 7.8 per cent in the period 2003-2007, which slowed down to 6 percent in 2008. The Group of 77 and China welcomes the progress achieved by the LLDCs. But we are very conscious that this single economic indicator does not provide the full picture of development. This growth has not been accompanied by a significant decrease in poverty. As the report mentioned, progress has been much slower in reducing poverty, hunger and maternal mortality, and in improving the area covered by forests, the proportion of the population using improved sanitation, and gender parity in secondary and tertiary education. The proportion of the population living in extreme poverty in Landlocked Developing Countries is still high.

9. In this context, The G-77 and China reaffirms on the special needs of and challenges faced by the Landlocked Developing Countries caused by their lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by the remoteness from world markets and also the concern that the economic growth and social well-being of Landlocked Developing Countries remain very vulnerable to external shocks as well as the multiple challenges the international community faces including the financial and economic crisis, and climate changes.

Madam Chair,

10. In this increasingly competitive globalizing world, trade is a vital means of international economic integration, and it is in this area that the LLDCs are at the greatest disadvantage. As such the failure of the Doha Development Round to address the development challenge in international trade is of great relevance to the situation of LLDCs.

11. The Group is also concerned that LLDCs continue to be at a competitive disadvantage in attracting private investments despite creating more attractive investment climate through reforms and policy improvements to reduce bureaucracy, lower costs, and improve business procedures and public services. There is a need, therefore, for conscious policy measures to facilitate and enhance the flow of investments, both public and private, in LLDCs in pursuit of the full implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action.

Madam Chair,
 
12. The G-77 and China stresses the need for the international community to enhance development assistance to Landlocked Developing Countries to help them overcome their vulnerabilities, build resilience and set themselves on a path of sustainable social and economic development. We also stress the urgent need to address the special development needs of and challenges faced by the Landlocked Developing Countries through the full, timely and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, as contained in the Declaration on the Midterm review of the Almaty Programme of Action.

I thank you,