Statement by Ambassador Wang Min, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, at 6th Meeting of Inter-Governmental Negotiations on Post-2015 Development Agenda
(June 22, 2015 Trusteeship Council Hall)
Mr. Co-Facilitators:
China supports the statement by the Representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and appreciates the active efforts of the Co-Facilitators for building political consensus and bridging differences among parties. Generally speaking, the Zero Draft of the Post-2015 Development Agenda has given comprehensive and balanced reflection of the discussion held so far by member states, taken into account of the positions and concerns of the parties, and provided a good basis for the next stage of the inter-governmental negotiations. Meanwhile, some elements in the draft still need further improvement. I would like to make the following comments on the Zero Draft.
1. The Zero Draft has reiterated the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)”, emphasized the commitments to promote win-win cooperation and common development benefitting for all, identified the poverty eradication as the overarching goal, and stressed that national conditions and the level of development should be respected in promoting a balanced development in the three pillars of economic, social and environmental development. China endorses all these. However, the Declaration section of the draft has diluted the differences between the developing and developed countries, put forward the concept of the “ethic of shared responsibility”, blurred the historical responsibility of the developed countries for climate change, and didn’t identify North-South cooperation as the main channel for global development partnership. All these need to be amended and improved in the next draft.
China believes, as the guideline for international development cooperation in the next 15 years, the post-2015 development agenda should focus on strengthening the development capacity of countries, improving the international development environment, advocating common development that is fair and equitable, open and inclusive, transformative and innovative, comprehensive and coherent. The post-2015 development agenda should create favorable external conditions for the development of countries, improve global economic governance, expand the representation and voice of the developing countries in global economic governance, and provide developing countries with equitable opportunities for development. Therefore we should advocate the principle of being fair and equitable. At a time when globalization is ever deepening, we should go along with the trend of globalization, build models of open economy, creating multi-dimensional connectivity, jointly promote a free and open multilateral trade and investment system while respecting the paths and models of development freely chosen by countries. Therefore we should advocate the principle of being open and inclusive. At present, countries, developing countries in particular, are all faced with the task of speeding up the economic restructuring and promoting sustainable economic growth. We should therefore advocate the idea of being transformative and innovative, and actively nurture new economic growth points and driving forces such as new energy and internet economy. We should promote economic, social and environmental development as the three pillars of SDGs in a coordinated way, bring about harmonious coexistence between Man and Nature, and between people and the society, and advocate the idea of comprehensive and coherent development. China hopes the Declaration section could further reflect these points.
2. On Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). China appreciates the full incorporation of the SDGs into the Zero Draft. Meanwhile, we believe the chapeau of the report of Open Working Group on SDGs, as an inseparable part of the SDGs, should be incorporated into the text of the agenda itself rather than being part of its annex.
3. On means of implementation. Means of implementation is an important part of the post-2015 development agenda. China appreciates the fact that the Zero Draft has incorporated relevant targets for means of implementation of the SDGs. On that basis, the means of implementation can be further improved and supplemented in line with the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.
4. On follow-up and review. China supports the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) to function as the follow-up and review mechanism for the post-2015 development agenda. We believe that it will be imperative to strengthen the monitoring of the means of implementation at the international level, with a focus on the ODA commitments, technology transfer, and capacity building. Follow-up and review at the national level should be voluntary in light of the national conditions of respective countries, so as to provide countries with sufficient policy space and ownership.
Thank you, Mr. Co-Facilitators.
