Madam Chair,

At the outset, I wish to congratulate you on your election as the chairperson of this session. I am convinced that you will lead this session to a successful conclusion. China associates itself with the statement made by South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. It is also the 20th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and the 20th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women. A series of important conferences will be organized by the UN, such as the Development Summit, the Conference on Financing for Development and the Conference on Climate Change, with a view to rethinking, redefining and re-launching projects related to global governance covering issues like poverty eradication, full employment and social integration that fall in the social area. It is highly relevant for this session to have as its theme: "Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world", and our discussion at this session will certainly contribute new perspectives and new ideas to the important conferences and processes to be held during this 70th anniversary of the UN.

The contemporary world is a world of change, one in which the international system and order are going through significant adjustments and the international balance of power is undergoing profound changes. Against this backdrop, the global cause of social development is confronted with multiple new challenges and difficulties. The problems of uneven development and inequality are becoming increasingly prominent. In today's world, there are still 2.2 billion people living in extreme poverty, over 200 million people unemployed and 2.5 billion people without access to basic health care. The interconnectivity between issues of social development and those of economy, security and environment is growing; and economic crisis, social unrest and clashes of civilizations are intertwined. Meanwhile, global crises of climate change, population explosion and food and energy shortage keep breaking out. All this cries out for the reform of global governing mechanisms.

Countries should take advantage of the 70th anniversary of the UN to strengthen coordination and cooperation, advocate new outlooks for social development, shape new global governing mechanisms and promote the establishment of a global system for social development that is more equitable, inclusive and sustainable. In this connection, my delegation wishes to offer the following observations:

First, promoting equitable social development that benefits all. We should make poverty eradication and development promotion the core of our efforts, and respect the paths of development freely chosen by various countries. The focus should be on helping developing countries address difficulties in their development and improving global governance, so as to ensure that all countries have equal opportunities, follow equitable rules and enjoy equal rights in international economic and development cooperation. This is the way towards universal prosperity and common development. The post-2015 Development Agenda process and the Conference on Financing for Development offer important opportunities in this respect. All parties should increase input in development, guarantee development resources, improve means to achieve development and establish a genuine global partnership for development.

Secondly, keeping to the road of green and sustainable social development. Climate change is a challenge to the whole mankind. The year 2015 is a critical year for negotiations on climate change and all parties have high hopes for the COP 21 of UNFCCC. China is ready to work with others under the principles of "common but differentiated responsibilities", equity and respective capacities, in a joint effort to strive for a new agreement at the Paris Conference on Climate Change and establish a global climate governing system that is fair and reasonable and ensures cooperation and win-win results. The United Nations should provide political guidance to this endeavor.

Thirdly, advocating innovative and inclusive social development. Countries should encourage technological innovation and increase investment in this regard, strengthen macro-policy coordination, use multiple means to address social issues such as extreme poverty, unemployment and aging, and increase the inner dynamism for world's development. A sound social security system and garantee of equal rights in all areas for the youth, the elderly and persons with disabilities are important hallmarks of social development and social progress; they also constitute a solid basis for the realization of the goal of development and human rights for all. The international community should take a comprehensive perspective in formulating a fair, inclusive and sustainable post-2015 Development Agenda.

Fourthly, working towards balanced and coordinated social development. Security, development and human rights are the three pillars of the UN, and efforts for economic and social development and protection of the environment and security are mutually complementary. In the complex international situation with ever increasing global problems, the interests of all countries are closely related and no country can afford to mind its own business only. Countries should embrace the conception of a community of common destiny, seek the largest common denominator of the interests of all, advocate mutual tolerance among different social systems, mutual learning among different cultures and civilizations, and mutual benefit among different modes of development, and find ways to deal with global issues through dialogue, consultations and cooperation.

Madam Chair,

China has obtained tremendous achievements in the area of social development. The Chinese economy has become the 2nd largest in the world and we have succeeded in feeding 1.3 billion people. We have reached ahead of schedule the MDG of halving the population living in poverty, provided employment to 770 million people, achieved universal coverage of nine-year compulsory education, and put in place the basic framework of the largest universal health insurance system and social security system in the world.

The Chinese economy has now entered the stage of "new normal". The speed of our economic growth has turned from high to medium-high and our development level is progressing from medium-low to medium-high. We are working hard to accelerate structural reform to improve the quality and efficiency of our economic development. In this stage, one of our main tasks is to improve people's livelihood, including creating employment and eradicating poverty. The Chinese government has set the goal of "two one hundred years", namely, doubling our 2010 GDP and per capita income of residents in rural and urban areas by 2020 to build a society which is comparatively well-off, and build by mid-century a prosperous, democratic, civilized and harmonious socialist country and realize the Chinese dream of the revitalization of the Chinese nation. China is confident that it will score further success in development, including social development. We are willing to continue to share our development experience with other countries, provide more "China opportunities" to the world and strive for the common prosperity of our country and the world as a whole.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.