Co-facilitators,
 
1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. At the outset, I wish to thank you for calling this informal meeting of the plenary to define the format and organisational aspects of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF). The establishment of the HLPF is one of the major outcomes of the Rio+20 Summit. The Group of 77 places great importance on the creation of the HLPF to serve as an intergovernmental forum to overcome the challenges of sustainable development.

Co-facilitators,

3. On the structural elements of the HLPF, the Group of 77 is flexible to engage in the discussion on the hybrid format based on the principles of universality and transparency. It is important to reiterate here that the HLPF has universal membership, composed of all States with full and equal participation.

4. On the question of institutional format, the Group of 77 is of the view that the HLPF should consist of the following components. Firstly, the HLPF should have a high level segment at the level of Heads of State/Heads of Government in the General Assembly, to be held back to back with the General Assembly debate. This high level meeting should be convened every 3 years for 2 to 3 days. Secondly, the HLPF should have an annual Ministerial Meeting as well as a Senior Officials Meeting.

5. The Group of 77 stresses the importance of promoting synergies and complementarities in the work of the ECOSOC and the HLPF while recognising the need to reduce duplication. In this regard, the Group of 77 believes that the appropriate ECOSOC mechanisms, in particular the AMR and DCF, could contribute to the substantive work of the HLPF, as appropriate and without prejudice to the ongoing discussion of ECOSOC reform.

Co-facilitators,

6. The Group of 77 strongly believes that the HLPF as a whole and at all its levels must ensure the integration of the 3 dimensions of sustainable development and implementation through the themes promoted and discussed in its framework, as well as through its decisions and recommendations. The HLPF should also ensure the accountability of the UN Development System.

7. As we work towards finalising the format and organisational modalities of the HLPF, the Group of 77 would like to reiterate that the HLPF should, among other functions perform the following:

- provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations through high level participation and its decision making process;
- ensure the integration of the 3 dimensions of sustainable development;
- follow up on implementation of sustainable development commitments, including those listed in para 85(e) of the Rio+ 20 Outcome Document and address means of implementation for sustainable development;
- promote the sharing of best practices;
- enhance the consultative role and participation of the major groups and other relevant stakeholders based on the inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development;
- strengthen the policy science interface;
- ensure accountability of the UN development system; and
- encourage high level system wide participation of the United Nations agencies, funds and programs

8. In carrying out its mandated functions, the HLPF at all levels, including at heads of state, ministerial and senior official levels, must respect the principle of universal membership to ensure that all its meetings will include the participation of all states on an equal footing and that the rules of procedure as well as working methods are consistent with its universal character.

9. Moreover, the Group of 77 is also of the view that the Senior Officials Meeting of the HLPF should take place before its ministerial or heads of state level meeting. It should prepare these meetings including their outcome documents. The Senior Official Meeting should, in this regard, produce a report and an intergovernmentally agreed outcome containing political recommendations and decisions for the enhancement of the implementation of sustainable development, which will be subsequently endorsed by the ministerial meeting.

10. In conclusion, the Group of 77 strongly believes that the HLPF must be committed to carry out its functions to implement the past action plans as stipulated in paragraph 16 of the Future We Want. In this regard, the Preambular and Operative sections of the proposed elements of the draft resolution should reflect this commitment appropriately, in particular the devotion of sufficient time to address the concerns of the most vulnerable countries including the SIDS, LDCs, LLDCs and Africa.

Co-facilitators,

11. The Group of 77 and China wishes to assure you of its support and commitment to engage constructively in this collective endeavour to finalise the format and organisational modalities of the HLPF.

Thank you.