Mr. Chairman,

The pursuit of peace and development by African countries is at a critical juncture. With their booming economy, African countries have made remarkable progress in the implementation of NEPAD and maintained stability and the momentum of development. As a result of the effect of the international financial crisis, local regional conflicts and hotspot issues, especially the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the humanitarian crisis in Africa is exacerbating. All this has posed daunting challenges to Africa's endeavor for peace, stability and development.

The development of Africa is an integral part of international cooperation for development. The development of Africa can help achieve global prosperity. The international community should attach great importance to and carry out strategic cooperation with Africa. In this connection, China wishes to make the following proposals:

First, the development of Africa should be the priority of post-2015 development agenda. The international community should help Africa speed up the attainment of the MDGs. In preparing the post-2015 development agenda, priority should be given to the needs of Africa. Developed countries should honor their ODA commitments, provide the African countries with financial and technical assistance, and help them with capacity building. Developing countries should strengthen South-South cooperation as a supplement to North-South cooperation. The international community should work to improve the environment for Africa's development, including increasing support in financing, trade and debt reduction and cancellation.

Secondly, the international community must join hands to help the West African countries cope with the Ebola epidemic. The current outbreak of Ebola epidemic is spreading in West Africa, posing a serious threat to local people's lives and health. It has become a common challenge of non-traditional security for the international community. The top priority is to implement the UN strategy in response to Ebola and strongly support the work of UNMEER. It is necessary to send more medical personnel and experts to the affected area, provide protective gears and material, help treat the affected, improve the screening and testing capability and help the local communities in Ebola prevention and control. Countries should increase assistance to Africa to help it enhance capacity building in the area of public health.

Thirdly, the efforts of African countries to realize peace and stability should be supported. The international community should uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and, on the basis of full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the African countries concerned, make active efforts to promote peace and facilitate negotiations with a view to finding peaceful settlements to disputes. The international community should strengthen coordination and collaboration with the AU and other African regional organizations help Africa strengthen institutional building in the area of collective security, and support the settlement of African issues by Africans through African means.

Mr. Chairman,

China and Africa have always been a community of shared destinies and good brothers. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always stand firmly with African brothers. We will always be Africa's most reliable friend. Strengthening unity and cooperation with African countries has always been an important cornerstone of China's foreign policy. In his visit to Africa in March last year, the Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the guiding principle of "sincerity, real result, affinity and good faith" for China's relations with Africa, which provides an important guide to further develop China-Africa friendship and China-Africa Cooperation. In May this year, the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed the "461 framework" during his visit to Africa, which further enhances the level of China-Africa cooperation and deepens China-Africa new strategic partnership.

Since the founding of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2000, China has engaged in active cooperation with the African countries within the framework of the Forum and steadily increased assistance to Africa. By 2012, China had provided assistance to 51 African countries and the AU. In 2013, the trade volume between China and Africa reached 220.2 billion dollars. China has for five years remained the number one trade partner of Africa and China's direct investment in Africa has exceeded 25 billion dollars. The Chinese Government is actively implementing the assistance initiatives announced by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang during their visit to Africa, which include extending to Africa 30 billion dollars in credit, adding 2 billion dollars to the China-Africa Development Fund, providing 10 million dollars to be used in protecting the wild life in Africa, and implementing the "trans-national and trans-regional infrastructure construction cooperation partnership" and the "African talents program". China will continue to actively support African countries in their efforts to fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS.

The Chinese Government is greatly concerned about the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. At the very beginning of the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in some West African countries early this year, the Chinese Government for the first time lend a helping hand. In April, August and September, humanitarian aid with a total amount of 234 million RMB has been provided to West African countries, including protective treatment supplies, food and cash assistance. We also sent nearly 200 experts and medical personnel to West African countries to work together with the people of these countries in fighting Ebola outbreak. We are currently very worried about the deterioration of the Ebola outbreak in West African. During the ASEM Summit in Milan, Italy, Premier Li Keqiang officially announced that China will provide the fourth installment assistance with a total of at least 100 million RMB to West African States, including 60 ambulances, 100 motorcycles, 10000 prevention care packages, 150,000 sets of personal protective equipment. In addition, China will send dozens of experts and plan to train 10,000 health care workers and community prevention and control personnel. Currently Ebola epidemic is still spreading in West Africa, we will continue to work with West African countries, sharing weal and woe and overcoming difficulties, to fight against this serious disease until the final victory.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to conclude by saying that China will continue to support NEPAD and the visionary Agenda 2063 formulated by the AU and make greater contributions to promote the development and prosperity of Africa.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.