Co-Facilitators,

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

2. The Group commends the efforts of the Co- facilitators in advancing our discussion through informal consultation on the item, "Review of the implementation of the General Assembly Resolution 61/16". We note and acknowledge the efforts that you have exerted in the formulation and advance circulation of the series of "Food for Thought Papers" on the "ECOSOC we want". They have served as a provocative recipe for thoughtful consideration.

Co-Facilitators,

3. The choice of today's topic of discussion is an important one to the Group. We have been requested to share our views on the tasking of ECOSOC in the Rio + 20 Outcome Document "The Future We Want", as well as the role of ECOSOC in the context of the Post- 2015 Development Agenda.

4. The Group of 77 reiterates that the tasking of ECOSOC in the Rio + 20 Outcome Document is spelled out very clearly in that Document itself. Primary among these tasks are the roles and functions found in its 82nd and 83rd paragraphs, although there are other paragraphs within the text of the Rio +20 Outcome Document that also have significant and direct impact on the Council's systemic role and functions.

5. The Group of 77 cannot over emphasize the fact that as a principal organ of the United Nations, ECOSOC has a primary role in the integrated and coordinated follow-up of the outcomes of all major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social, environmental and related fields. ECOSOC also has a key role in achieving a balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development. These roles and functions were clearly stipulated in the Rio +20 Outcome Document, from which we should draw guidance.

Co-Facilitators,

6. However, as regards ECOSOC's tasks in the context of the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the Group of 77 urges caution so that the discussion of this issue in this forum is not preemptive. The Group believes that the outcome of the discussions in the Open Ended Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals, the High Level Political Forum and the Intergovernmental Committee on Financing for Sustainable development, all of which that have emanated from the Rio +20 Conference, will also have impact in one form or another, on the tasking and reform of ECOSOC.

7. In this regard, the Group makes specific reference to the "Possible Lines of Action" suggested in your "Food for Thought" paper. We submit that substantive discussions in this forum of the specific suggestions for action and questions raised in the paper should not prejudge the outcome of discussions taking place parallel to this particular forum. The Group is of the view that discussion on the tasking of ECOSOC in the context of the post 2015 development Agenda will become much clearer once the discussions on those aforementioned parallel fora take shape.

Co-Facilitators,

8. The Group reiterates its call for the enlargement of ECOSOC on the basis of the principle of equitable geographic representation. We make this call cognizant of the fact that the membership of the United Nations has considerably grown from 135 in 1972, when the last enlargement of ECOSOC was made, to 193 today. Any meaningful reform of ECOSOC must factor in this reality. The relevance of ECOSOC is at stake.

Co-Facilitators,

9. The Group of 77 will continue to engage constructively in this and in other parallel processes to achieve "the future we want", including addressing the review of the implementation of the UNGA Resolution 61/16 in this forum under your able co-facilitation.

Thank you.