Madam Cui Li,

Deputy Executive Director Dereje Wordofa,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to attend this side event on the theme of “ICPD 25 in China” co-sponsored by the National Health Commission of China and the United Nations Population Fund to review China’s contribution to the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development over the past 25 years.

The fundamental purpose of implementing the 2030 Agenda is to achieve global sustainable development, eradicate poverty and hunger, and secure lasting, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and social cohesion in all countries. For more than four years since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, China has been making tremendous efforts to reach the sustainable development goals for population and development. Tangible results have been achieved. In the past six years, the population of rural poor in China has decreased by more than 80 million, an annual reduction of more than 10 million. China has established a universal basic medical insurance system covering more than 95% of its population. In 2016, the maternal mortality rate in China was lowered to 0.0199 percent, and the infant mortality rate to 0.75 percent, having thereby attained the relevant sustainable development goals and objectives ahead of schedule.

Ladies and gentlemen,

China has been working actively with the international community to realize the sustainable development goals and objectives for population and development. Work is in full swing in China to honor the commitment that President Xi Jinping made at the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Summit, to implement 100 maternal and child health projects and build 100 hospitals and clinics in other developing countries, especially in Africa, and conduct practical cooperation with them in the field of population and reproductive health. In a joint effort to take forward the “Belt and Road initiative”, China has proposed a “health Silk Road”, focusing on three areas, namely, health security, health development and health innovation, to help countries along the “Belt and Road” achieve the health-related goals and objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As of April 2018, more than 40 countries and regions along the routes have signed bilateral and multilateral health cooperation agreements with China; the “Health Silk Road” is bearing early fruits. China has been promoting South-South cooperation across the board, continuously scaling up its input and deepening its cooperation with international organizations. China actively supports UNFPA in leveraging its technological advantages in the field of population and development, playing a greater role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and helping developing countries achieve comprehensive, coordinated economic, social and human development in light of their specific needs.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Looking forward, China will continue to fully implement the philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development, vigorously take forward the development of “Belt and Road” , and implement the 2030 Agenda to achieve the sustainable development goals and objectives in the population and development sector. China will continue to facilitate South-South cooperation in the areas of population and reproductive health, and work with other developing countries to make greater contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

Thank you.