Co-Facilitators,

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

2. May I in the first instance express the Group's pleasure in seeing both Your Excellencies presiding over today's informals as Co-Facilitators. We are embarking on an important negotiation process to define the format and organizational modalities of the high level political forum which we as member states decided to establish, as reflected in the Outcome Document of the Rio+20 Conference. I assure you of the support of the Group as we proceed together in this important consultation process.

3. The G77 and China is fully cognizant of the timeframe (as stipulated in the General Assembly Resolution 67/203) upon which these discussions are meant to commence and concluded. We have very limited time, now less than four (4) months. The Group therefore is very appreciative of your intention to facilitate these consultations in an open, transparent and inclusive manner consistent with the Outcome Document of the Rio +20 Conference.

Co-Facilitators,

4. The Group wishes only to make preliminary comments at this first informal meeting. At the outset, we wish to reiterate that the high level political forum, the finer working modalities of which we are about to discuss, is a universal, intergovernmental, high level, political forum, which shall follow up on the implementation of sustainable development, as well as enhance the integration of its three dimensions.

5. At this very early stage of our discussion, the Group wishes to highlight the important purpose of the forum Forum as we had agreed in Rio and that is to build on the strength, experiences, resources and inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The Group is of the firm view that without prejudice to the modalities we eventually decide under this process, such modalities have to strengthen and build upon the work of the CSD.

Co-Facilitators,

6. It is important to the Group of 77 and China that we avoid the creation of an institutional gap or vacuum in the transition period between the closure of CSD and the commencement of the forum. To this end, the Group recalls that our agreement was very clear in that the forum will subsequently replace the Commission.

Co-Facilitators,

7. The Group of 77 and China stands ready to contribute more substantively on this item and in a more detailed fashion when we next meet. We assure you once again of the Group's support.

Thank you.