Mr. Chairman,

We would like to congratulate you on your election to the chair of the third committee of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly. The Chinese delegation will actively support your work. China associates itself with the statement by Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Development is vital in today's world. We must, on the one hand, solve the problem of under-development and the problem of imbalanced development on the other. In his report this year, the Secretary-General emphasizes the need to address the issue of imbalanced development. In this respect, China would like to make the following observations.

First, we must firmly pursue multilateralism. All countries should be committed to the goal of cooperation for win-win results, and based on the rules and order, jointly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and promote economic globalization towards openness, inclusiveness, shared benefits and balanced development. We should respect the development path chosen by each country and the right of all countries to pursue a better life and development space.

Second, we must implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a balanced way. Countries should integrate the 2030 Agenda into their national development strategies in light of their conditions, so that together, we can embark on the path towards an innovative, coordinated, green, open development that benefits all. The international community should strengthen partnership in forging global cooperation for development with the UN at its core, North-South cooperation as the main channel, and the South-South cooperation as the supplement.

Third, we must enhance inclusive social development. All countries should pursue people-centered development by building a universal and sustainable social security system, promoting full employment and decent work to foster socially inclusive development. Public financial input should be increased to protect the legitimate rights and interests of vulnerable groups to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, so that these groups can share the development results.

Mr.Chairman,

China has always put people at the center of its development to ensure that reform and development benefit all its people in a fair manner. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Over the past 4 decades, based on its own national conditions, China has opened a socialist path with Chinese characteristics and achieved historic achievements in its social development. As a result, more than 700 million people have been lifted out of abject poverty, and all poor people in rural area will be lifted out of poverty by 2020. Basic medical insurance covering 1.35 billion people has been put in place, together with a pension system benefiting more than 900 million people. With increased sense of security, people now feel happy and satisfied.

China has been actively building a new platform for international cooperation, injecting new impetus to common development. The Belt and Road Initiative is a public good China offers the world. Indeed, it has grown into the largest platform for international cooperation. It aims to deliver benefits for all through consultation and cooperation. The Initiative is open, transparent and inclusive; it is based on international rules and laws, and it aims to achieve green, environment-friendly and sustainable development. It is about pursuing common prosperity through greater complementarity among participating countries. By September this year, over 130 countries and international organizations have signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation with China.

China is the largest developing country in the world. While developing itself, it has always actively supported the developing countries in their development efforts. China has so far provided nearly 400 billion yuan in development assistance to more than 160 countries and international organizations. At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September this year, President Xi Jinping announced that China will work closely with African countries and will focus on implementing the “eight major actions” in the next three years and in the future, which include actions in green development, capacity building, and health, people-to-people exchanges and common development in order to achieve prosperity of China and Africa.

China is ready to work with other countries to promote development cooperation, share development results and jointly build a community of shared future humankind.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.