Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the issues of disability, youth, ageing and family. We have noticed the reports of the Secretary-General submitted under this agenda item. We believe that it is important for the CSD to consider these issues and would like to make the following points:

First, the rights and interests of persons with disabilities should be safeguarded in a comprehensive manner. There are more than one billion persons with disabilities in the world, accounting for about 15% of the world population, and this proportion might rise further with the trend of ageing and the increase of chronic diseases. Governments are duty bound to provide comprehensive safeguard to the rights and interests of persons with disabilities and promote their full participation in social life. China supports the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report of incorporating the question of disability in the development agenda and calls on governments to give more attention to the question of disability when formulating national economic development strategies.

Secondly, guidance should be given to youth for them to contribute to social development. China supports the United Nations in formulating youth-oriented policies and programs of action with a view to comprehensively implementing the outcome of the United Nations High-level Meeting on Youth, enhancing guidance to youth and solving problems facing the youth such as development, employment and education, so that youth can become both the force for and the beneficiary of social development.

Thirdly, new ideas and ways to address the question of ageing should be explored. Ultimately, ageing is a development issue. In protecting the rights of the aged, it is necessary to respect the principle of differentiation, use as important reference principles established by existing United Nations legal instruments and relevant documents in the field of human rights, and take into full consideration specific conditions of various countries. The international community should pay more attention to the special situation and difficulties facing the developing countries in their work related to ageing and the developed countries should provide to the developing countries necessary financial and technical support.

Fourthly, the positive role of family in promoting social development should be given full play. As the most basic and sustainable unit of society, family can play a very positive role in eradicating poverty, promoting employment, maintaining social stability and enhancing social integration. Governments should incorporate in their national decision making a family perspective and support the United Nations system in strengthening coordination so as to effectively implement the goals of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up actions.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese government upholds the concept of scientific development that promotes people-centered, comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development. It has worked hard to achieve a balance between economic and social development. As an important part of its endeavor to build a society that is moderately well-off, work on disability, youth and ageing has achieved remarkable progress. China has formulated and actively implemented the 12th Five-Year Plans which include building service systems for persons with disabilities and the aged and establishing a social pension system. We have submitted on time our implementation report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and are actively preparing for its consideration. Last year upon the invitation by the Chinese government, Mr. Shuaib Chalklen, UN special rapporteur on Disability of Commission for Social Development, conducted a successful visit to China. We support the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing in carrying out its work within its mandate and conducting an assessment of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing at its tenth anniversary. We have worked actively to implement the outcome of the United Nations High-level Meeting on Youth; we have integrated policies and projects related to family into our national development strategy; and we support the United Nations’ preparation and observance of the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2014.

Mr. Chairman,

My government will continue to take an active part in international cooperation in the field of social development and will work together with the international community to promote the implementation of the MDGs and the programs of action in relevant fields so as to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities and the aged throughout the world, enable the youth to fully play their role and enhance the role of the family.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.