Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under Agenda Item 24 a) Operational Activities for Development of the United Nations system.

2. The Group of 77 and China has repeatedly over the past years reiterated the importance of operational activities for development and in particular to ensure that development remains a priority in deliberations on the reform of the United Nations.

3. Operational activities for development are directly dependent on adequate, sustainable, timely and predictable funding. We note with great concern the continued imbalance between core and non-core funding. This worrying situation negatively impacts on the coherence of the UN development system. Moreover, the increasing trend of development partners to rely on earmarked funding contradicts some of the principles and fundamental characteristics of UN operational activities, namely that they must be neutral and should respond to needs of programme countries in a flexible manner.

3. In that sense, G77 and China reiterates that the operational activities for development should be carried out for the benefit of recipient countries, at their request and in accordance with their own national policies and priorities. Moreover, we call on concerned actors to remain faithful to the fundamental characteristics of the UN operational activities for development, which are, inter alia, their universal, voluntary and grant nature, their neutrality and multilateral aspects.

4. Additionally, we reaffirm that there shouldn't be any restrictions on the ability and sovereignty of national governments to determine their own development priorities and select their development partners, as well as the type of relation with the UN development entities they wish to establish at the country level. It remains important that operational activities for development of the United Nations system should be valued and assessed on the basis of their impact on recipient countries as contributions to enhance their capacity to pursue poverty and hunger eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development.

Mr. Chairman,

5. We urge all development partners to implement the Nairobi Outcome Document and repeat again the call for the UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies, to take concrete measures to mainstream support for South-South cooperation, including triangular cooperation, to help developing countries, at their request and with their own ownership and leadership, to develop capacities to maximize the benefits and impact of South-South and triangular cooperation.

6. Furthermore, G77 and China stresses that South-South Cooperation should be explicitly incorporated into the operational programmes of all relevant bodies of the UN system.

Mr. Chairman,

7. In the light of several intergovernmental negotiations taking place in the development agenda, G77 and China is very concerned towards the growing trend of developed partners to attempt to re-draw the boundaries separating developed and developing countries. We totally reject these attempts, and highlight -once more- that South-South Cooperation is a complement and not a substitute to the traditional modalities of international cooperation, including North-South Cooperation.

8. We have furthermore discussed during the ECOSOC this year in Geneva the need to ensure that developing countries are being provided the necessary support to develop their own national capacities, at their request and under their leadership, in order to achieve their own national development plans, as well as the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

9. We support the recommendation contained in the Secretary-General's report that the UN system must continue to improve the coherence and coordination of its support for South-South and triangular cooperation. In addition, all UN organizations, agencies, funds and programmes, and regional commissions should assist developing countries in enhancing or establishing "centres of excellence" in their respective areas of competence.

10. The G77 and China is therefore looking forward to next year's debate to, amongst other, ensure that the discussions on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) will contribute to the development of national capacities, to further improve the coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system and to review steps taken to ensure country ownership and leadership of UN operational activities.

11. We also call for international support to the upcoming High-level Committee for South-South Cooperation in 2012.

I thank you.