Remarks by China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Fu Cong at the Meeting of the Informal Ad Hoc Working Group on UN80 Initiative

Co-Chairs,

China aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. I thank the Co-Chairs for their efforts on the draft, and wish to highlight three points.

First, mandate implementation review concerns all Member States. The central role of Member States must be fully reflected, and the concerns of all countries, particularly developing countries, must be given adequate attention. This is a prerequisite for the broad recognition and effective implementation of reform outcomes. We appreciate the Co-Chairs' responsiveness to various concerns in refining the draft, while noting room for further improvement. We trust that the Co-Chairs will properly balance different positions and advance consultations in an inclusive and transparent manner.

Second, the diversity of mandates and mandating bodies must be fully respected. Decision-making should adhere to the mandates and rules of procedure of each body, on a consensus and case-by-case basis. Mandate review should adopt a pragmatic and forward-looking approach, that draws on lessons learned, and takes into account factors such as time, capacity and resources. In this process, the three pillars must be advanced in a balanced manner, with special attention to avoid any adverse impact on the implementation of development mandates.

Third, reform on mandates should stay true to the original intent of UN80, striving for streamlining and efficiency, avoiding renewed duplication, and preventing additional financial and administrative burdens on Member States. On whether to establish a new follow-up mechanism, careful study and prudent decision-making are needed -especially on questions about its mandate being overly broad, potential overlap with existing processes, and possible disruption to the work of various bodies. We encourage full use of existing mechanisms and processes to advance implementation.

In conclusion, we support the Co-Chairs in continuing broad-based consultations to build consensus on a draft that balances ambition with pragmatism, towards early harvests and visible outcomes. China remains ready to play a constructive role to this end.

Thank you.