Mme. Chairperson,

First of all, I would like to congratulate Your Excellency for being elected Chairperson of the Second Committee of the current session. The Chinese Delegation will cooperate closely with you and the bureau to bring the work of our committee to a successful conclusion. The Chinese delegation also supports the statement made by the representative of Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Mme. Chairperson,

In the world today, the expansion of economic globalization and rapid progress of science and technology have brought about rare opportunities and huge potential for all of us. But at the same time, the world is confronted with problems such as imbalances in the world economy, rising of trade protectionism, mounting pressure caused by shortages of energy and resources, environmental degradation and climate change. On the one hand, the world economy registers sustained growth, but on the other, poverty persists. On the one hand, science and technology advances and accumulation of wealth grows rapidly, but on the other, the gap between the North and South and between the rich and poor is widening. In many countries, whether the MDGs can be achieved remains uncertain. How to achieve coordinated, sustainable development and build a harmonious and prosperous world is a common task of all countries. Now, I wish to make the following points:

1. Countries need to work together to promote balanced and common development. Economic globalization has brought countries closely together. Imbalances in global development cannot be addressed without cooperation among countries. Developing countries need to work out and implement national development strategies and strengthen their capacity for sustainable development. The international community, developed countries in particular, should take effective measures and fulfill their commitments by increasing official development assistance, reducing or canceling debts, opening market, and promoting technology transfer to help developing countries overcome obstacles to development. To address imbalances in global economy, countries need to strengthen strategic dialogue and macro policy coordination, avoid fluctuations in the financial market, and curb trade protectionism. The international economic architecture should reflect the changes in the international landscape by increasing the voice and representation of developing countries so as to ensure that the international economic order evolves in a more reasonable direction.

2. Efforts should be intensified to mobilize financing for development to make up for the gap in development fund. Achieving universal development requires a large amount of money. Though private investment to developing countries is on the increase, the fact that many developing countries have not benefited from the investment remains unchanged. The reduction of official development assistance in 2006 is also a disturbing signal. We need to take effective measures to implement the Monterrey Consensus, establish a global partnership, with a view to mobilizing both domestic and foreign financing, and integrating the efforts of governments and private sectors. An effective financing depends on a sound system. The international community should truly help developing countries strengthen capacity building and increase their ability to raise fund and fend off financial risks. The Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development in 2008 will be an important meeting where we can take stock of our experiences, get more motivated and promote action. I hope this year's session of the General Assembly will lay a good foundation for the conference.

3. Efforts should be made to develop a healthy multilateral trade regime to promote development through trade. Parties concerned need to work together to oppose trade protectionism, remove trade and non-trade barriers, create a level playing field, properly address trade disputes and avoid politicization of trade issues. All parties need to commit themselves to pushing for an early conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations for comprehensive and balanced results. We hope major developed members would exhibit sincerity, take the lead in showing flexibility in issues such as reducing the trade-distorting agricultural subsidies, and make their due efforts towards the success of the negotiations. All parties need to do their utmost to ensure that the objectives for a "development round" will be achieved to the real benefit of developing members.

4. Cooperation is needed to address climate change and ensure sustainable development of all countries. Climate change is an environmental issue, but in the final analysis, it is an issue of development. Addressing climate change at the expense of economic growth and seeking economic growth while ignoring climate change are both undesirable. The future international framework for cooperation in addressing climate change should be set up through consultation in the context of sustainable development. At the same time, the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol should remain the core mechanism and main avenue for approaching the issue and the "principle of common but differentiated responsibilities" must be followed. Apart from taking the lead in considerably reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, developed countries should truly increase financial assistance and technology transfer to developing countries to help them pursue clean development. Developing countries should contribute to the efforts by reining in the growing pace of greenhouse gas emissions to the extent possible. The United Nations should continue to play a leading role in this area.

5. Institutions for development should be strengthened so that the United Nations will play a bigger role in the field of development. It is necessary to step up UN reform in the field of development, ensure resources for development and strengthen development-related institutions. A monitoring and evaluation mechanism for international development cooperation needs to be established to implement international consensus and the MDGs. The triennial comprehensive policy review should provide policy guidance for the direction and priority areas of operational activities for development in the next few years. In carrying out operational activities, the characteristics of assistance, including its universal, voluntary and grant nature and its neutrality and multilateralism should be maintained. Efforts should be made to improve efficiency and better serve the needs of recipient countries.

Mme. Chairperson,

China is committed to South-South cooperation and common development. Recent years have witnessed steady progress in economic cooperation among developing countries, as evidenced by brisk investment and trade and remarkable increase in economic and technical support to the LDCs. We are ready to make further efforts to draw on each other's strengths, tap the potential for cooperation, and explore new approaches and ways for cooperation to promote common progress. China is now implementing the five major measures aimed at supporting the accelerated development of developing countries as well as the agreements reached during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. This will contribute to the expansion of South-South cooperation.

Mme. Chairperson,

Since the inception of China's reform and opening up nearly three decades ago, China has enjoyed sustained and rapid economic growth, which has not only benefited the 1.3 billion Chinese people but provided tremendous business opportunity for all countries and fueled the growth of the world economy. However, we should also be soberly aware that China is still the largest developing country in the world with a large population, poor economic foundation and uneven development. The living standards of its people are not high. Institutional and structural problems continue to exist in its economic operation, particularly disequilibrium of balance of international payments and mounting pressure caused by shortages of resources and environmental pollution.

The Chinese Government is pursuing a scientific approach to development which puts people first and strives for all-round, coordinated and sustainable development. We are endeavoring for steady and rapid economic development and social progress. With regard to product quality and safety, the Chinese side takes the issue seriously and has taken effective measures to ensure product quality and safety, boosting the confidence of domestic and foreign consumers. On the issue of climate change, China has all along adopted a responsible attitude. The Chinese Government has formulated and released China's National Climate Change Program and taken a series of measures such as improving energy efficiency and energy mix. On the disequilibrium of balance of international payments, China is taking steps such as adjusting its economic structure, expanding domestic demand and reducing preventive saving. China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties and do its part to address the imbalances in global economy.

China will hold firm to the new industrialization strategy marked by high technology, high economic returns, low consumption of resources, low environmental pollution and full development of the potential of its human resources. We will speed up our efforts to adjust the economic structure, change the pattern of economic growth, and develop the circular economy and a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society. Our goal is to promote the healthy interaction between the social and economic system and the natural and ecological system, and promote the all-round development of the economy and the society as well as the rounded development of the people.

Let us work together for a beautiful future of harmony, prosperity and sustainable development for mankind.

Thank you, Mme. Chairperson.

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