Mr. Chair,

First of all, please allow me to extend, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, our warm congratulations to you on your election to be chairman of this meeting, and sincere gratitude to the Secretariat of the meeting for such excellent preparation work. We welcome the theme of this Session----“New Trends in Migration –Demographic Aspects” and highly appreciate the Secretary General’s report which provides a very good foundation for discussion about “New Trends of Migration” at the meeting.

Mr. Chair,

Migration is a key element of population dynamics and an important component of the globalized world. Migration affects almost all countries in the world, either as origin countries, transit countries or destination countries. Such impacts bring both opportunities and challenges to attainment of the MDGs. Accelerated economic globalization keeps expanding the scope and scale of international migration. Meanwhile, due to the impacts of factors such as economic and financial crisis, regional unrest and frequent natural disasters, “passive migration” such as refuge seeking and displacement is also on the rise. As international migration is a global issue to which no country could respond alone, the international community should enhance cooperation therein. Hereby, the Chinese delegation would like to put forward the following comments and suggestions:

First, we should endeavor to narrow the wealth gap between countries and regions and promote common development. Countries of the world should incorporate population migration into their national master plans for economic and social development and make integrated decisions thereon. Developed countries should help developing countries to develop economy, upgrade living standards, improve health and education, and thereby facilitate the latter to achieve sustainable development.

Second, we should safeguard legitimate rights and interests of migrants and promote social integration of migrants and capacity building for migrant family development.

Third, we should ensure migrants have access to basic public healthcare services including sexual and reproductive health and family planning services. These services should be comprehensive, quality of care and respectful of migrant cultures.

Fourth, we should reinforce data collection and analysis of migration. As international and domestic migration plays an important role in development, timely, accurate and comparable migration data provides a critical base for policy making and plan formulation, facilitates promotion of more rational populaton migration and promotes sustainable socioeconomic development.

Fifth, we should boost partnership and cooperation regarding migration. The Chinese side supports the 2013 high-level dialogue on international migration and development, and calls for better capacity building of all countries, especially developing countries, and have policy dialogues, in response to the challenge of migration, so as to maximize the benefits of migration to both origin and destination countries and to the migrants themselves, minimize negative impacts of migration and achieve win-win situation of all stakeholders.

Mr. Chair,

International migration is an extremely important issue in population and development. Hand in hand with other national governments and the international society, the Chinese side would be more than happy to continue with its relentless efforts to boost international cooperation in the area of population migration, promote normal global population migration and enhance well being of all people.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.