Mr. President, Dear colleagues,

I am delivering this statement, entitled “Innovations in Infrastructure Development and Promoting Sustainable Industrialization”, on behalf of the BRICS inter-governmental grouping, as China holds the 2017 Presidency of the group.

BRICS Leaders’ shared vision of intensifying development, integration and industrialization remains at the core of our BRICS partnership, as well as our cooperation with other Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs), especially African countries to jointly achieve these objectives.

Complementary hereto, innovation, infrastructure and industrialization are important and enabling elements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The international community needs to accord these elements priority attention, support “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” and innovation-driven development, and assist the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises so as to increase employment in all sectors. Infrastructure building is essential to the improvement of the development environment of the developing countries in that it helps advance interconnectivity and economic integration. Industrialization and cooperation in productive capacity can improve people’s lives and accelerate economic growth.

It is incumbent on the international community to work together to help the developing countries implement the SDGs, including those in areas of innovation, infrastructure and industrialization in order to ensure the comprehensive realization of the 2030 Agenda. Regarding the implementation by the international community of the SDGs related to innovation, infrastructure and industrialization, the BRICS would like to make the following proposals:

First, assist EMDCs to enhance their capacity in technological development, research and innovation and create a favorable policy environment for innovation. The international community needs to support investment and training in science, technology and innovation, support the EMDCs in their implementation of plans of action for innovation in such areas as E-commerce, digital economy, smart cities and science and technology zones, help the developing countries adopt strategies and policies to encourage innovation, to create enabling conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship in the developing countries.

Secondly, pay attention to the need for infrastructure building in EMDCs, notably the African countries, the LDCs, the LLDCs and SIDS. The international community needs to, based on the specific needs of each country, assist the EMDCs to build high-quality, reliable and sustainable infrastructure. While attention is given to building bridges and roads, efforts are also needed to improve infrastructure in other areas such as electricity and communication, and to help with the popularization of ICT in these countries. Greater long term investment in infrastructure should be encouraged so as to ensure funding and enhance the scale and quality of investment in infrastructure.

Thirdly, help the developing countries seize the opportunities brought about by the new industrial revolution and advance their industrialization. There is a need to help the developing countries realize industrial transformation in a sustainable, inclusive and transparent manner, promote inclusive growth, create decent jobs and achieve sustainable development. There is a need to support the EMDCs increase their capacity for sustainable industrialization and increase the resilience of their industry-related service sector, small and medium enterprises and agriculture. There is also a need to assist the African countries and the LDCs to develop digital economy, strengthen their connection with the global market and ensure that they benefit from the new industrial revolution.

Fourthly, in a globalized world of integrated economies and supply chains, where the mobility of capital, technology, commodity and goods have been promoted widely, mobility of professionals and workers is equally important and needs to be facilitated.

Mr. President,

Since the establishment of the BRICS cooperation mechanism a decade ago, positive results have been achieved in multiple areas. The BRICS have set up the New Development Bank to advance financial and economic cooperation and promote the economic development of EMDCs. In this regard, the first regional office of the New Development Bank, namely the African Regional Centre, will be dedicated to render such support. The New Development Bank has approved the first batch of loans for implementing projects in the area of renewable energy in members of the BRICS. It has also issued its first green bonds denominated in RMB to finance projects in the area of environment and to advance the implementation of the SDGs. The BRICS are willing to work together with all others to strengthen result-oriented cooperation in areas of road, railway, port, aviation, energy pipeline, electricity, optical fiber, telecommunications and ICTs, promote regional economic integration, with a view to enhancing international cooperation in innovation, infrastructure and industrialization, so as to enable relentless efforts to implement the SDGs.

Thank you, Mr. President.