(Photograph by Shen Hong/Xinhua News Agency)

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, I would like to welcome the Secretary-General's reports submitted under Agenda Items 62(a)and(b)and Item 12. The Chinese delegation endorses the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Yemen on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Today, Africa faces both important opportunities and grave challenges in peace and development. Since the launching of the New Parthership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) nine years ago, with the vigorous support of the international community, the African countries have achieved great progress in such areas as infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, the environment and ICT. Nevertheless, under the impacts of the financial, food and energy crises and of climate change, Africa still faces an uphill task in realizing the MDGs by 2015. Today, Most of the regional hotspot issues that affect Africa's peace and stability are, in the final analysis, attributable to poverty and underdevelopment. China believes that development is the basis for the attainment of peace in Africa.The international community should increase its support for Africa and help it attain greater progress in the implementation of NEPAD and thus promote the stability and prosperity in Africa.

First, promptly dilever on its commitments to assistance. Despite the slight increase in the total ODA volumn for Africa in recent years, it still falls far short of the pledged targets of the international community and the actual needs of Africa. The developed countries should expeditiously raise their ODA level to 0.7% of their GNI, further open their markets to the their African counterparts, reduce or waive the latter's debts, and increase technology transfer and investment so as to improve its capacity for independent development.

Second, respect for the right of self-determintaion of the African countries. The African countries have made major headway through vigorous efforts to increase unity for greater strength, seek regional peace and stability, and bring about economic reinvigoration. In providing assistance to Africa, the international community should show greater respect for its realities and the sentiments of its countries, further remove conditionalities, increase the predictability and transparency of such assistance, and redress the power imbalance between the donors and recipients.

Third, expand the South-South cooperation. As a useful complement to North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation has become an effective engine for Africa's economic development. Recent years have witness brisk financial and trading exchanges on the South-South front, with the creation of models of cooperation built on equality and mutual benefit through various forms, such as knowledge sharing, exchange of experience, training, technology transfer, contribution in kind and soft loans. We should further enhance and revitalize South-South cooperation to contribute to Africa's development.

Fourth, strengthen the role of international bodies. The UN system is playing an irreplaceable role in supporting NEPAD. It is imperative to further deepen the UN system's partnership with the African Union, Africa Development Bank and regional economic communities, and to ensure that the focus of various bodies of the UN system is aligned with NEPAD's priorities. The international financial institutions and international development agencies should also step up their support for Africa.

Fifth, Promote the realization of long lasting peace in Africa. Over 60% of the items on the Security Council's agenda are related to Africa and 75% of the Organization's international peacekeepers are deployed in Africa. China belives that the international community should vigorously support the African countries to solve the disputes throuth peaceful consultations, support regioal organizations such as the African Union to strengthen its capacity building in peace keeping, and should not interrupt and hinder the peaceful resolution of the hotspot issues in Africa by any means. The United Nations should paly a more proactive role in the field of peace and development in Africa and the Security Council should play a more important role in maintaining the peace, security and stability in Africa.

Mr. Chairman,

China and Africa enjoy deep-rooted traditional friendship. China has all along been committed to the cause of peace and development on the Continent. Since the establishment of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2000, China's strategic partnership with Africa has developed in depths after a decade's efforts, with fruitful results produced in our pragmatic cooperation in many areas.

In recent years, the Chinese Government has been implementing various measures in its Africa-related assistance and cooperation. Last November, the Chinese Government announced, at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a series of policy measures in support of Africa's development, which include, inter alia, $10 billion of preferential loans to African countries, waivers for the unpaid interest-free loans that had expired by the end of 2009 and that were owed by HIPC and LDC governments in Africa with diplomatic ties with China, progressive granting of customs duty-free treatment for 95% of the products by African LDCs that have diplomatic ties with China, with the treatment applied to 60% of such products as the first step in 2010.

China fully supports the call for increasing global control of malaria. From 2006 to 2009, China provided 300 million yuan of RMB of grants to help Africa in the fight against malaria. From 2010 to 2012, China will continue to provide its 30 malaria prevention and control centres in Africa with anti-malaria supplies and invite experts and technicians of the recipient countries who work in those centres to train in China so that these development projects will become sustainable.

This past September, the second round of Ministerial Political Consultations between China and Africa took place at the UN Headquarters in New York. China has been always and will continue to be constructive participating in good offices and make efforts to address the hotpot issues facing Africa, support the UN Security Council in playing an important role in helping resolve the conflicts in the African region, support and participate in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa. It calls upon the international community and the UN entities, including the Security Council, to make more proactive and constructive contributions to maintain the peace and security in African

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Mr. Chairman,

We are convinced that the people of Africa have the wisdom and ability to achieve their economic revitalization and social progress through their own unflagging efforts. China is ready to join the African counties and the international community in continuing its contributions to the cause of peace and development in Africa.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.