Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, please allow me to express, on behalf of the Chinese Government, our congratulations to the State of Qatar for assuming the chairmanship of the Group of 77 for 2004. I also wish to extend my thanks to the Kingdom of Morocco, Chairman of the Group of 77 for last year, for its excellent work.

Over the past year, the Group of 77, under the leadership of Morocco and through strengthened unity and coordination, reached extensive consensus and achieved gratifying results on such issues concerning the common interests of the developing countries as financing for development, South-South cooperation and integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits.

Looking into the new year, the Group of 77 is still shouldered with arduous and long-term tasks in safeguarding self interests. Globalization continues to develop in depth, the gap between the North and the South is widening, and trade talks are locked in stalemate. The global economy is faced with many uncertainties. Under such circumstances, only through strengthened unity, concerted efforts, reduced development hurdles and improved external environment, can the Group of 77 succeed in safeguarding the common interests of the developing countries and promoting the establishment of a fair and equitable new international political and economic order. Here, I would like to share my views with you on the work of the Group of 77 in 2004.

1. To adhere to the principle of multilateralism and continue to enhance the process toward democratization and the rule of law in international relations. This is the foundation for international development and cooperation. The Group of 77 should, based on the United Nations, strengthen its relations and cooperation with the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organization and accelerate, on the basis of full participation and consensus building, the process of formulating rules guiding international development and cooperation so as to better govern and manage the trend of globalization, narrow the gap between the North and the South and achieve more balanced, stable and sustainable world economic development. At the same time, the Group of 77 should further strengthen coordination on United Nations reform, which bears on the future of this Organization.

2. To give priority to implementing international development objectives and tasks through concerted efforts. To materialize development cooperation objectives set at the international conferences and summits since the 1990's, it is necessary for the Group of 77 to strengthen unity and coordination, seek common ground while preserving differences and give priority to formulating common strategies, mechanisms and measures on poverty eradication, financial resources, technology transfer, market access and sustainable development with a view to maintaining and safeguarding the common rights and interests of the developing countries. We are ready to continue to work with the developing countries and make our own contributions to this end.

3. To make use of the advantages and strengthen South-South cooperation. South-South cooperation is an important means for the developing countries to strengthen their collective strength and effectively participate in the process of globalization. Differences, complementarities and diversities among the developing countries in terms of natural resources, economic structures and development levels have provided South-South cooperation with enormous potentials and bright future. At the high-level meeting on South-South cooperation held in Morocco last December, many useful recommendations were put forward, such as promoting trade and investment, mobilizing financial resources and strengthening regional and sub-regional economic cooperation. The Group of 77 should continue to explore new ways and means and expand areas of cooperation so as to play a bigger role in enhancing South-South cooperation and implementing the above-mentioned initiatives.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the role of the Group of 77. Over the years, in the United Nations and other international organizations, we have rendered mutual support and coordination through the form of "the Group of 77 and China" and effectively safeguarded the common interests of the developing countries. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Group of 77 for its valuable support to China. To show its support to the work of the Group of 77, the Chinese Government this year has decided to increase its contribution with a total amount of US$ 40,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.