Mr. Chairman,

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

Allow me at the outset to express my deep appreciation to the Government and people of Thailand for hosting this important meeting in the beautiful city of Bangkok. We thank the Secretariat for their excellent work regarding the arrangements for this meeting.

As we move forward towards Durban, you can count with our full support and collaboration in your endeavors. We have demonstrated here in Bangkok that the strength of one hundred and thirty one developing countries that make up the Group of 77 and China is a powerful force to ensure that we can swiftly move forward this process in a constructive and proactive manner.

The G77 and China tabled a draft agenda contained in the document FCCC/AWGLCA/2011/CRP.1, that when was finally open to discussions and negotiations became the basis for the adoption of the agenda we have now, demonstrating that we were flexible in the approach and willing to accommodate everybody perspectives and concerns.

Having said that, the Group of 77 and China expresses that the words "results of the 16th Conference of the Parties" and the words "the work done at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties" in the agenda adopted imply all of the results of Cancun, including the formal, explicit and expressed objection of a member of our Group. We want this to be reflected in the records.

This agenda is the fruit of many hours of intensive discussions and engagement, and it is an achievement we must keep. The agenda is structured to address all the building blocks of the Bali Action Plan as well as the elements of the Cancun decisions in a balanced and comprehensive manner.

Mr. Chairman, this agenda will help us to move forward in addressing climate change, one of the most serious challenges of our times.

Climate change threatens not only the development prospects and the achievement of sustainable development, but also the very existence and survival of societies.

At the time our negotiations on the issues under the AWG-LCA resume this year, developing countries are experiencing more and more the impacts of the adverse effects of climate change. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are increasing, for all countries, but in particular for developing countries whose already limited capability to cope with those adverse effects is further weakened by global economic and financial crises.

Mr. Chairman,

The Convention clearly states that Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities. It therefore stipulates that developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse effects.

The Group of 77 and China believes that Cancun marked a milestone towards the fulfillment of the mandate of the Bali Action Plan "to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action now, up to and beyond 2012". On this basis, the AWG-LCA must continue its work with a view to presenting its results to the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth session in a way that contributes positively towards reaching an agreed outcome.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to express that the G77 and China remains steadfast in its willingness to participate and engage constructively in the process along this year in order to reach a balanced outcome in Durban that fully respects the two negotiating tracks according to the Bali Roadmap.
In this sense, there is a need to ensure a balanced result in both negotiating tracks and, in particular, to keep an internal balance within the AWG-LCA work in order to advance on all the issues under consideration in this Working Group in an equitable and integrated manner.
The negotiations should further contribute to implement the tasks included in Cancun, while at the same time provide a framework for Parties to effectively address issues that were not concluded or that require further elaboration.

As we advance towards Durban, we need to ensure an open, party-driven, transparent and inclusive multilateral process that would lead us to a consensus. In this regard, the Group reaffirms that negotiations are to be led in an equal and fair manner.

The Group of 77 and China highlights that any outcome under the AWG-LCA in Durban shall recognize the historical responsibilities of developed country Parties and be in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, while at the same time, take fully into account the legitimate priority needs of developing countries for the achievement of sustained economic growth and the eradication of poverty.

I may add that the Group of 77 and China reiterates the necessity of the active participation of Palestine in the UNFCCC process and to make every effort to grant Palestine access to funding from different Climate Change sources.

Finally, allow me to reiterate to you the assurances of the support of the Group and our continued and active engagement in this process. We are confident that under your leadership and guidance, we will indeed attain a comprehensive and equitable outcome in Durban that will serve the interests of humanity.

I thank you.