Mr. Chairman,

China associates itself with the statement made by Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of G77 and China. The Chinese delegation congratulates you and other members of the Bureau for your election and pledges our full support for the success of this session.

Mr. Chairman,

The international community has made great progress in strengthening legislation and mechanisms for gender equality and in promoting girls' education. However, gender equality is challenged by the multiplier and reinforcing effects of globalization, urbanization, unbalanced regional development and migration. While old obstacles persist, new ones emerge and make gender equality an even more arduous task.

Financing for gender equality and empowerment of women is not only a key but also a bottleneck in promoting gender equality. The international community should take concrete actions and fully and effectively implement the Monterrey Consensus by, inter alia, enhancing gender awareness, increasing aid, reducing and canceling debt, opening markets, and reforming the international economic, financial and trade systems. Institutional obstacles in financing for development must be overcome to forge and improve global partnership.

Mr. Chairman,

With rapid economic development, the Chinese government pays increasingly more attention to promoting economic, social, political and cultural development in a coordinated and balanced way, and attaching greater importance to improving people's lives. As China pursues a people-centered sustainable development in an all-round way, it has taken measures to eliminate all forms of inequality, promote scientific development and enhance concerted efforts in building and sharing a harmonious society, all of which are favorable for gender equality.

In 2007, the Chinese government accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Outcome Document, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Millennium Development Goals. Actions include:

1. Further integrating gender perspectives in legislation. Stipulations with regard to women's rights were specified in the newly promulgated Property Rights Law and Employment Promotion Law. A policy document was issued by nine ministries on the prevention and prohibition of domestic violence. A National Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children (2008-2012) was also formulated and implemented. In addition, complaints, remedial and mediation mechanisms for women's rights were further strengthened. Legal aid centers and shelters for women were established, and women's rights focal points were set up in legislative, judicial and administrative institutions, such as courts, police stations, civil affairs departments and public health departments.

2. Further implementing the CEDAW Convention. A National Symposium on Follow-up to the Concluding Comments of CEDAW was conducted in 2007, during which major line ministries, women's organizations, the media and the UN System in China held frank and pragmatic dialogues and discussions on the implementation of CEDAW and the concluding comments. Based on the outcome of the mid-term review of the implementation of the Program for the Development of Chinese Women, targets and indicators of the Program will be adjusted in line with the Convention.

3. Paying special attention to vulnerable groups such as rural women, migrant women and left-behind children including left-behind girls. In-depth studies and researches were conducted and multi-sector cooperation enhanced to carry out training programs and rights-based actions, Social support mechanisms have been improved to promote their equal participation in and benefit from development.

4. Improving work in gender budgeting and gender indicators development. Gender responsive budgeting workshop was tailored to train financial, planning, auditing and statistical officials. Seminars on gender indicators and sex-disaggregated data were also organized. Gender indicators were incorporated into the development of comprehensive index of a well-off society. Nowadays male and youth participation in promoting gender equality is not uncommon in China. Top-ten "Men of the Times" in promoting gender equality were awarded across the country. Advocacy campaigns on the elimination of violence against women were launched on university campus with active participation of young men.

Practices of financing for gender equality and empowerment of women include:

1. Increasing input in social sectors and improving public services for women. In recent years, China has greatly increased funding for women and children's health, education and poverty-eradication, etc.

2. Strengthening multi-stakeholder cooperation and innovating financing models. China enhanced cooperation among the government, the civil society, the private sector and international organizations. Cooperation and mutual aid programs between developed and under-developed regions were initiated within the country. The government facilitated to enhance financing capacity of women's foundations, and helped to introduce products produced by women into international markets.

3. Deepening international cooperation, and actively engaging in international assistance to promote equal and mutually-beneficial exchanges.

We look forward to sharing experiences with all participating countries and holding candid discussions on the implementation of Monterrey Consensus and the BPFA to further promote gender equality and the early attainment of the MDGS.

Mr. Chairman,

The international community has long recognized that development must be human-centered and sustainable, and that gender equality composes a core part of it. China stands ready to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation to promote scientific development and to build a harmonious world.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.