|Statement by Mr. Wang Min, Deputy Permanent Representative of P. R. China to the United Nations at the General Debate of the 2nd Committee of the 65th General Assemblyon Agenda Item 25: Operational Activities for Development|
The Chinese delegation would like to thank the Secretary-General for the report and notes submitted under this item. China associates itself with the statement made by Yemen on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
1. Comprehensive implementation of GA Res. 62/208 on the TCPR
In view of the increasingly severe challenges facing the global development endeavor, the General Assembly adopted in 2007 Res. 62/208 on TCPR, which has set forth clear requirements for the work of the UN development system and pointed out the way forward. In the three years since then, UN funds and programs have overcome various difficulties, including those caused by the world financial and economic crisis, carried out fruitful work as required by the resolution and achieved positive progress.
The success of the UN High-Level Meeting on MDGs in September has once again forged global political consensus and provided new impetus towards the attainment of the MDGs. At that meeting, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao reviewed China's path of development and, in an active response to the UN initiative, made solemn commitments on development assistance on behalf of the Chinese Government and people.
The Chinese delegation is of the view that the coming five years represent a crucial phase for the global endeavor to attain the MDGs. The UN development system should implement in a comprehensive manner GA Res. 62/208 and the Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting on MDGs with a stronger sense of urgency and responsibility. The UN programs and funds should establish a strict order of priority among various development agendas, resist interference and always keep as the top priority the timely attainment of the MDGs. They should also focus on helping Africa in its development and poverty reduction efforts, intensify support to the LDCs, and increase input in capacity building and capacity development of the developing countries so as to help them effectively increase their capacity for self-development.
2. Development financing and improvement of resource structure
Improving the resource situation of the UN development system is currently at the center of concerns of the developing countries. Without financial support, little can be done to promote development, let alone improving the efficiency and accountability of the UN development system. The availability of adequate, stable and predictable core resources is both the foundation of UN operational activities for development and a fundamental requirement for the reinforcement of the global partnership for development.
The current downward trend of development financing and imbalance in resource structure have seriously affected the coherence and efficiency of the UN development system and will likely further erode the fundamental characteristics of the UN development assistance, namely, its universal and grant nature, neutrality and multilateralism, and will also undermine the principle of national ownership and leadership by the recipient countries. The key to the solution of this problem is the effective and timely fulfilment by the developed countries of their ODA commitments, on which rests the international responsibility and credibility of the donors. Further more, it will have a substantive impact on the endeavor of the developing countries to overcome the current global challenges, eradicate poverty and realize their development goals on schedule.
As Premier Wen Jiabao said, "to offer a loaf of bread is more useful than making an empty promise." The Chinese delegation calls on all parties in development assistance to follow the GA Res. 64/289 on system-wide coherence and the consensus contained in the Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting on MDGs, take immediate and practical action to improve the funding system of the UN operational activities for development, fulfill their respective responsibilities and commitments, and make joint efforts towards the global development goals.
3. Further strengthening South-South cooperation for common development
South-South cooperation is an important way for the developing countries to use their comparative advantages, help each other and combine their strength in pursuit of common development. While South-South cooperation is an important supplement to North-South cooperation, it is not its replacement. For more than a decade, the developing countries have been calling for greater support by the international community for South-South cooperation and a better environment for such cooperation. My delegation is encouraged by the fact that in recent years, economic and technical cooperation among the developing countries have made tremendous headway. The increasing diversity in modalities, expansion in scale, and constant evolvement of mechanisms for exchanges and cooperation demonstrate the enormous potentials and vitality of South-South cooperation. The determination, solidarity and collaboration displayed by the developing countries have also won acknowledgement and commendation of the international community.
The Chinese Government always attaches importance to economic and technical cooperation with other developing countries. At the initiative of my government, cooperation mechanisms such as China-Africa Cooperation Forum and China-Arab Cooperation Forum were set up and the International Poverty Reduction Center in China was established in Beijing as early as 2005. At the recently concluded UN High-Level meeting on MDGs, Premier Wen Jiabao announced new initiatives for strengthening development cooperation with other developing countries in areas of resource, debt relief, financial cooperation, trade, agriculture, human resources development and public health. Being a developing country itself, China is confronted with multiple development challenges. Nevertheless, the Chinese Government is willing to continue in-depth discussions with other countries and the UN development system on new ideas and new methods for the enhancement of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, thus further contributing to the undertaking of helping the developing countries attain the MDGs at an accelerated pace.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.