Mr. Chair,

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

2. At the outset, permit me to express the Group’s appreciation to the Secretariat for the documentation, and relevant updates pertaining to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the issues under consideration.

3. Our commitment to poverty eradication is central to our development agenda. It is in this vein, that we reaffirm that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, for all peoples everywhere, is the overarching goal of the 2030 Agenda. It remains the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

Mr. Chair,

7. The Group of 77 and China is deeply concerned that 2 years after the proclamation of the Third UN Decade for Eradication of Poverty (2018-2028), the trend of poverty reduction is being reversed, for the first time in decades. Undoubtedly, the devastating impacts of the current pandemic have dealt us a blow, further setting back development progress across the globe.

8. To this end, we note the daunting statistics contained in the Secretary General’s Report, in particular that “in 2020, the share of the world’s population living in extreme poverty is forecast to increase to 8.6 per cent, representing an additional 71 million people pushed into extreme poverty.” It is with this in mind that Group stresses the urgency of accelerated efforts, as well as integrated, coordinated and coherent strategies at all levels to eradicate poverty. This must be complimented by a renewed commitment to strengthening international cooperation, solidarity and resource mobilization.

9. The Group believes that the predicament before us, underscores the imperative to tackle extreme poverty in all countries, particularly in developing countries and in rural areas; as nearly 80 per cent of the extreme poor live in rural areas. We reiterate our call for developed countries to honour their official development assistance commitments and to support the national efforts of developing countries through predictable financial resources and technical assistance.

Mr. Chair,

10. The Group of 77 and China underscores the link between poverty and inequality. We acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic has widened already existing inequalities. As such, we must urgently take targeted measures to address the root causes of poverty, hunger, all forms of malnutrition and maintain stable and unhindered food supply chains.

11. In line with the objective of leaving no one behind we recognize that addressing inequality should be an integral part of any poverty eradication strategy. Likewise, ending hunger and achieving food security and nutrition for all are fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

12. The Group emphasizes that eradication of extreme poverty requires investing in policies that are in line with the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the Paris Agreement. We look forward to the convening of the United Nations Food Systems Summit in 2021, which aims to explore bold new actions, innovative solutions and strategies, and particularly, the means of implementation to transform our food systems and deliver progress across all SDGs.

Mr. Chair,

13. On the matter of industrial development cooperation, the Group is of the firm view that inclusive and sustainable industrial development plays an essential role as part of a comprehensive strategy of structural economic transformation, which enables poverty eradication and supports sustainable economic growth. Further, we believe it is also vital to realizing many of the SDGs, as it is associated with job creation, sustainable livelihoods, innovation, technology, skills development, food security and equitable growth.

14. We welcome the timely and meaningful launch of the Alliance for Poverty Eradication which serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas, policies and best practices on poverty eradication. We encourage the Alliance during the 75th session of the General Assembly, to continue its engagement to promote international cooperation on poverty eradication and sustainable development in the era of COVID-19 and beyond.

15. The COVID-19 crisis has given us a strong push for innovation and digital transformation. Accordingly, the Group stresses that industrial development cooperation should include technology transfer for the developing countries, on concessional and preferential terms.

16. It has been undisputedly established that industry is a key generator of viable solutions to global development challenges. In this regard, the Group affirms that industrial development must take place in a balanced and integrated manner, taking into account the three dimensions of sustainable development, which are necessary for the realization of the 2030 Agenda.

17. In conclusion Mr. Chair, the Group of 77 and China looks forward to engaging constructively with our development partners during the deliberations on this item, with a view to employing our collective efforts in good faith, to create a world free of poverty.

I thank you.