Mme. President,

Based on the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document and its development follow-up resolution, the first thematic debate on development is now being held by the current UNGA session to take stock of international development cooperation in order to move forward. This is very timely and necessary. Mme. President, the Chinese delegation warmly welcomes this session and highly appreciates your leadership.

Mme. President,

Development is a central goal by itself. Our commitments to realizing internationally agreed development goals including MDGs derive from our solemn commitment to common development. Our commitments to establishing global partnership for development derive from our profound understanding of increasing interdependency.

The continued expansion of economic globalization and steady growth of world economy have offered countries with rare opportunities. However, hunger and poverty are not going to disappear by themselves. Against the backdrop of imbalanced economic development, wider gap between the North and the South, and increasing new global challenges, it requires greater efforts to achieve common development.

From the International Conference on Financing for Development to the 2005 World Summit, the international community has come to a better understanding of global partnership for development with more clearly defined commitments. Based on the existing consensus, we should all play our own roles well, enrich the connotation and improve the model of partnership. First, countries should shoulder the primary responsibilities for national development, formulate and implement comprehensive development strategies according to their own national conditions, and fully mobilize domestic resources and all social sectors to ensure that development involves everybody and brings benefits to all people. Second, we should vigorously advocate international development cooperation. The developed countries should shoulder responsibilities and earnestly fulfill their commitments to increasing development aid, technical transfer and investment as well as promote world trade. At the same time, we should continue to encourage South-South cooperation among developing countries. Third, we should further improve the environment for international development cooperation by formulating fair and just international rules to push economic globalization towards a balanced and win-win direction of universal benefits. Trade liberalization could be beneficial for development of all countries. Parties should make joint efforts to restart Doha Round, reach early consensus on key issues, and realize development dimension. Fourth, we should reinforce the role of the United Nations in development areas, ensure development resources and strengthen development agencies, so that "development" will be mainstreamed throughout the UN system. We should achieve better coherence and integrity between international development policies and international monetary, financial and trade policies. The resolution adopted by the General Assembly on strengthening of the ECOSOC not long ago marks an important step towards this direction. Fifth, we should fully mobilize the enthusiasm and initiatives of private sectors and the civil society to create a new situation of complementarity and mutual enhancement among all stakeholders.

Mme. President,

As an active and constructive development partner, China has adopted a sincere and responsible attitude towards global development. We have acted mainly in the following two aspects: First, we have made unswerving efforts for reform, opening up and innovation to maintain the good momentum of economic development. This has not only improved the living standard of the Chinese people, but also created opportunities for common development of all countries. Second, we have vigorously promoted South-South cooperation and offered assistance and support within our abilities to other developing countries.

As a large developing country, China's endeavor to continuously promote the development of 1.3 billion people is in itself a contribution to international development cooperation. At the same time, we have all along closely linked our own development with the integral development of developing countries. At the 2005 World Summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced five measures to help other developing countries, including zero tariff, debt relief, preferential loans, public health cooperation, and human resources training. China has been implementing these measures vigorously.

In order to promote cooperation between China and other developing countries both in depth and width, China has in recent years initiated and established such mechanisms as China-Africa Cooperation Forum, China-Arab Cooperation Forum and China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.

Mme. President,

As the weakest part in global development, Africa has been at the center of world attention. Over the past 50 years, China and the African countries have treated each other with sincerity, supported each other and conducted cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, which have brought tangible benefits to people of both sides.

The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held from 4 to 5 this month. Two outcome documents "Beijing Declaration" and "Beijing Action Plan (2007-2009)" were adopted at the summit. This has further promoted China-Africa partnership and provided the blueprint for China-Africa economic and social cooperation in the next three years. Promotion of trade and investment has become a new focus at the summit.

At the summit, President Hu Jintao unveiled eight measures of the Chinese government for enhancing a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership, which mainly involves the following areas: 1. To expand aid to Africa by doubling its 2006 assistance to Africa by 2009. 2. To provide 3 billion U.S. dollars of preferential loans and 2 billion U.S. dollars of preferential buyer's credits to Africa in the next three years. 3. To set up a China-Africa Development Fund that will reach 5 billion dollars to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa and provide support to them. 4. To build a conference center for the African Union. 5. To cancel debt in the form of all the interest-free government loans that matured at the end of 2005 owed by the heavily indebted poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa that have diplomatic relations with China. 6. To further open up China's market to Africa by increasing from 190 to over 440 the number of export items to China receiving zero-tariff treatment from the least developed countries in Africa having diplomatic ties with China. 7. To establish three to five trade and economic cooperation zones in Africa in the next three years. 8. To increase aid in terms of personnel training and public health, including: over the next three years, train 15,000 African professionals; send 100 senior agricultural experts; setup 10 special agricultural technology demonstration centers; build 30 hospitals and provide 300 million RMB yuan of grant for providing artemisinin and building 30 malaria prevention and treatment centers to fight malaria; dispatch 300 youth volunteers; build 100 rural schools; and increase the number of Chinese government scholarships to African students from the current 2000 per year to 4000 per year by 2009. I am glad to inform you that the follow-up actions have already started. I am convinced this will offer practical and effective help to the African countries.

Mme. President,

Development is a process, and the global partnership for development needs to be enriched and improved continuously. China will continue to fulfill its commitments to common development as a trustworthy partner and make actual contributions to realizing internationally agreed development goals and universal common development.

Thank you, Mme. President.