Excellencies,

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

At the outset, allow me to express the appreciation of the Group to the Chair of the Second Committee and the Bureau for the convening this informal dialogue to discuss the revitalization of the work of the Second Committee. We see this as critical to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

The Group accords a high level of importance to this undertaking and looks forward to engaging constructively, towards ensuring that the work of the Second Committee is conducted in a manner that gives greater impact and relevance to its intended purpose.

Mr. Chair,

The Group would like to recall that the Second Committee was established with the fundamental purpose to address macro-economic, finance and other sustainable development challenges confronting the global community. These functions validate the views of our Group that the work of the Second Committee has long been enshrined in the development pillar of the United Nations.

The work of the Committee has been evident through the United Nations Decades for the Eradication of Poverty, the Millennium Development Goals, to the present Sustainable Development Goals. In this sense, the work and priorities of the Second Committee predate the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, and will remain relevant long after the expiration of our present universal Agenda.

Mr. Chair,

The Group of 77 and China underscore the importance and universality of the 2030 Agenda, including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, to the work of the Committee. We note, in this context, that the issues of development will continue to impact developed and developing countries differently.

To this end, the Group is of the view that the work of this Committee is inherent in ensuring an orderly global macroeconomic framework as a necessary enabling environment for developing countries to realize the overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda; that of leaving no one behind.

For this reason, the Group is also of the view that any attempt exclusively to concentrate the work of the Second Committee around the 2030 Agenda could represent a vaguely narrow perspective and a misconstruction of the intended purposes.

Mr. Chair,

With reference to the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the Second Committee, we are pleased to inform that the Group of 77 and China is keen to embrace these ideals provided they are sufficiently well grounded in the mandates and objectives of the Second Committee. The Committee would need to strike a careful balance in the fulfilment of a universal Agenda, while prioritizing the needs of the developing countries that make up the vast majority of United Nations Members. We are keen, therefore, to examine effectiveness and efficiency of our work, with a view to ensuring strong, targeted and action-oriented outcomes.

In accordance with the foregoing, the Group stresses the importance of building on the results of previous efforts at revitalizing the work of the Committee, including in reviewing the periodicity or relevance of resolutions, to be considered on a case by case basis, with clear reasoning and sound arguments. In the same vein, the Group reiterates the right of all delegations to present proposals for additional agenda items, or new draft resolutions, as a prerogative of each Member State.

Mr. Chair,

Allow me to highlight some specific points to guide our work going forward and to examine our collective efforts for better aligning our work with the demands of the 2030 Agenda.

Firstly, the Group of 77 and China acknowledge the interconnectedness of this process with other ongoing processes other ongoing processes, such as the review of ECOSOC and HLPF, and the alignment of the agendas of the General Assembly, ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies. We reaffirm that while these processes are similar, they are not the same; they complement each other while responding to different mandates with different objectives.

Secondly, for its part the Group is of the view that the process of revitalizing the work of the Second Committee should take into account the gaps in the current treatment of the scope and content of the 2030 Agenda and, therefore, how to structure the work of the Second Committee for greater impact in addressing any existing gaps. Additionally, consideration should be given to addressing any overlaps that exist in the work of the Committee with a view to remedying these, bearing in mind the different mandates and focus of other intergovernmental bodies.

Thirdly, on the issue of accountability we recall that the members of the Bureau are elected on a regional basis and that each member has an obligation to represent their regional group and to report to their group on issues that require attention. This will allow Members States to prioritize issues that will invariably contribute to improving the alignment of the Committee’s work with the 2030 Agenda and by extension, its streamlining.

On this note we call for a structured and formalized schedule for informal consultations, and for adequate time between these informal consultations to enable Groups and delegations to consult and assimilate the new language proposals, as quality consultations will help achieve quality and consensual outcomes.

Mr. Chair,

Our top priority is development through international cooperation; but it is clear that with current resources it will difficult to achieve the Agenda; in this stead, the Group reaffirm that there is great value in the exchange of views which are frank and constructive in terms of enhancing the work of the Second Committee. We look forward to collaborating with you and with our partners to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

I thank you.