Mr. Chairman,

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

2. Allow me at the outset to express the deep appreciation to the Government and people of Germany for hosting this important meeting in the historical city of Bonn. We also thank the Secretariat for their excellent work regarding the arrangements for this meeting.

3. As we move forward towards Durban, you can count with our full support and collaboration in your endeavors. The Group of 77 and China is looking forward to engage promptly and fruitfully in substantive negotiations. We trust that under your experienced leadership, the parties will find ways to have agreement and to work positively and constructively.

Mr. Chairman,

4. The Group of 77 and China would like to emphasize that the mandate for AWG-LCA is the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention as per the Bali Action Plan, and is committed to fulfilling it.

5. The Group would like to underline the fact that developing countries continue to suffer from the adverse impacts of climate change, and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The Group also underlines the challenges faced by developing countries from the impact of response measures. Climate change threatens not only the development prospects and the achievement of sustainable development, but also the very existence and survival of societies.

Mr. Chairman,

6. 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 a balanced and comprehensive outcome.

7. We recognize that the Cancun outcomes introduced new issues under the Subsidiary Bodies, as per Dec. 1CP/16. Some assignments to the SBI and SBSTA agenda following Cancun are clear enough, but the new processes needing further political development and therefore must be kept under the AWG-LCA sphere. In this sense, we believe that discussions on unresolved issues should continue in the AWG-LCA track, and not be transferred to other bodies, since that would not be in line with the Convention nor with the mandate given by Parties to the AWG-LCA, which was extended in Cancun. We further emphasize that the AWG-LCA must maintain an overview of the specific issues that were mandated to SBI through Decision 1CP/16, and that the progress made under SBI must feed into the comprehensive and balanced outcome of the AWG-LCA.

8. The Group of 77 and China believes that as we advance towards Durban, we need to continue to work in an open, party-driven, transparent and inclusive multilateral process that can lead us to a consensus. In this regard, the Group reaffirms that negotiations are to be conducted in an equal and fair manner, so the outcome serve to achieve the necessary global cooperation to address this grave environmental challenge in line with the principles and provisions of the Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

9. The G77 and China, once again, stands ready to engage constructively with our partners during these discussions, and to engage in the required drafting and negotiating texts based on proposed language from Parties, with the guidance and assistance that yourself and the facilitators you have appointed kindly offer.

10. On the other hand, the Group of 77 and China is convinced that even with the best use of the time available to us, these sessions cannot be the last ones before convening in Durban, and there is a clear necessity for an additional session to be held in the Fall. In this regard, we expect to receive further clarity on the preparations under way and definitions of such meeting at the earliest possible time, and before we adjourn our work this session.

11. Finally, Mr. Chairman, allow me to reiterate to you the assurances of the support of the Group and our positive and active engagement in this process.

I thank you.