Co-Facilitators,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. At the outset, let me congratulate you for your appointment as Co-Facilitators for the consultations on the review of the implementation of Resolution 61/16 of the General Assembly, on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council. The Group thanks you for convening this meeting and ensures you of its constructive engagement in this process.

3. The G77 and China reaffirms that the ECOSOC is a principal body for policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social development and for the follow up to the MDGs and is a central mechanism for the coordination of the UN system and supervision of the subsidiary bodies of the Council. We also reaffirm the major role the Council plays in the overall coordination of funds, programmes and specialized agencies, ensuring coherence among them and avoiding duplication of mandates and activities.

4. In order to improve the effectiveness of ECOSOC, the G77 and China fully supports the strengthening of the relationship between ECOSOC, General Assembly, its subsidiary organs and the Peace Building Commission (PBC).

5. On the relationship with the General Assembly, there is room for improvement and we would like to stress that some efforts need to be made for coherence in that relationship.

6. With the subsidiary organs, programmes and the funds, we believe that the ECOSOC could hold more joint session and coordination meetings.

7. Regarding the relationship of the ECOSOC with the Peacebuilding Commission, we consider that this is a crucial organ in the overall efforts to strengthen the United Nations in the work of helping countries emerging from conflict. Consequently, we stress the need for having more coordination meetings in a flexible format, with regular interactive dialogues. Moreover, the Chair of the PBC could give briefings on the peace building situation in the countries on the agenda of the commission to the ECOSOC on regular basis.

Co-Facilitators,

8. The G77 and China favors considering the core activities of the substantive session of the ECOSOC in the UN headquarters, in New York, in order to ensure more coordination and coherence of the work of the Council. This view will be examined in the light of cost saving measures for the organization and Member States in the context of ECOSOC reform this year.

9. As far as the ECOSOC Spring Meeting is concerned, the G77 and China is worried that this important meeting has been losing its influence over the last few years. Indeed, we face several difficulties regarding efforts to make these meetings. The level of representation is not high enough and there is lack of engagement both from delegations in New York (at Permanent Representative level) and from the WTO, BWIs and UNCTAD representatives.

10. Furthermore, regarding the meeting format, we believe that some suggestions can be made in order to improve the work on this issue:

a) We need to have a more interactive dialogue, while maintaining a balance between the opening session and the thematic debates and ensuring the participation of the major stakeholders as well as our senior officials from capital through their statements.

b) We need ensure that the presentations of the panelists are relevant to the specific topics of the thematic debates, and that we could have at the same time the views of all major stakeholders in each theme.

11. On the other hand, we believe that there is space for improving the follow-up mechanisms, through exploring the review of the implementation - by the BWIs, UNCTAD and WTO - of their commitments adopted at the major UN Conferences as well as in the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and ECOSOC, the promotion of the agenda of the thematic debates over the whole year, and the issuance of a report on the session of the ECOSOC Spring Meeting. The issue of implementation of resolutions and decisions, including by the BWIs, UNCTAD and the WTO, in accordance with their respective mandates, is key for ensuring a more efficient ECOSOC.

Co-Facilitators,

12. Regarding the bureau of ECOSOC, the Group believes that it is important for the new members of the bureau - before taking over - to have a briefing on rules of procedure and a list containing the principal decisions that have to be approved in that particular year. In order to share their experience, we emphasize the relevance of the new bureau having a meeting with the members of the outgoing bureau.

13. Furthermore, there should be additional information for Member States of the Council at the beginning of the year. In this regard, having the documents on time is very important in order to give enough time to delegations to consider documents that are going to come in the ECOSOC sessions.

14. The G77 deems it useful to rethink the current structure of the ECOSOC substantive session to avoid overlap and duplication and improve the process of follow-up to major UN conferences.

Co-Facilitators,

15. As far as this process of review of the implementation of resolution 61/16 is concerned, the Group looks forward to a successful outcome under your guidance and leadership, during the ongoing session of the GA. In this regard, the spring meeting of the BWIs as well as the substantive session of the ECOSOC in 2013 could contribute to the ongoing discussions and consultations to strengthen the Council.

16. The Group believes that the current process shall take due account of the different processes of follow up to Rio+20 Conference and outcome document, including the SDG process, the process to assess financing needs for sustainable development, the facilitation mechanism on dissemination and transfer of technologies, the process to define the format and organizational aspects of the High Level Political Forum for sustainable development as well as the upcoming post-2015 development agenda.

Thank you.