Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Delegation supports the statement delivered under this agenda item by the distinguished representative of Venezuela on behalf of the Group 77 and China.  On the Report of the Economic and Social Council (the Council), I would like to make the following supplementary comments.

During its substantive and organizational sessions this year, the Council considered a wide range of important agenda items in the economic and development fields, reached consensus on many issues and achieved encouraging progress.  The high-level segment of the Council's substantive session held last July had an in-depth discussion on the theme "The contribution of human resources development, including in the areas of health and education, to the process of development". The Ministerial Declaration adopted by the meeting fully recognizes the important contribution of human resources development to social development.  It calls for actions to significantly increase investments in health and education in a concerted effort to meet the challenges of globalization.  China fully supports the initiatives as contained in the Declaration. In The 2002 ECOSOC session has also responded positively and promptly to the Monterrey Consensus and has made tremendous efforts in maintaining the momentum of the International Conference on Financing for Development and in promoting enhanced cooperation with the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organization.  We commend the efforts made by the Council in this regard. We would also like to congratulate the Council on its recent decision to set up, for Guinea-Bissau, the first Ad Hoc Advisory Group on African Countries Emerging from Conflicts.  China supports the work of the Advisory Group and expects it to work out practical and feasible recommendations for the post-conflict reconstruction and development of Guinea-Bissau.

Mr. Chairman,

The Economic and Social Council bears a significant responsibility in realizing the objectives of international cooperation in the economic, social and development fields, as provided by the Charter of the United Nations.  With regard to the future work of the Council, we would like to emphasize the following points:

1. We support the Council to continue to play a substantive role in international cooperation for development. We believe that, in the selection and consideration of the themes in various segments, the Council should place greater emphasis on addressing the real concerns of the developing countries regarding their development.  To enable the Council to discharge its mandate and play its role effectively, the international community, especially the developed countries should take earnest measures to ensure on a timely and predictable basis adequate financing for the operational activities and humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system. At the same time, pursuant to the relevant General Assembly and ECOSOC resolutions and agreed conclusions, the Council should further improve its working methods, enhance efficiency and ensure effective implementation its resolutions and decisions.

2. As the primary system-wide coordinating body of the United Nations in the economic, social and development fields, the Council should continue to play an active role in promoting the integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in these fields and to enhance the supervision, management and policy guidance by the Council vis-à-vis its subsidiary functional commissions, funds and programs.  In line with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the respective mandates of the main bodies of the United Nations, the Council should increase exchanges and cooperation with other bodies in a concerted effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

3. The Economic and Social Council has a clear mandate in implementing the Monterrey Consensus and the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development.  On the basis of full consultations among Member States and pursuant to the requirements of resolution E/2002/34 adopted during the July session, the Council is encouraged to continue, under the innovative format of annual high-level spring meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, to play its unique role in promoting financing for development and to contribute to consideration of the follow-up to Monterrey by the General Assembly high-level dialogue on international cooperation for development.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.