China
Statement by Ambassador Wang Min at the 7th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
July 21, 2015
Mr. Co-facilitators,
China associates itself with the statement by South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
China appreciates the active effort by the co-facilitators to build political consensus and bridge the differences among the member states. I wish to thank you for providing the final draft of the post-2015 development agenda for discussions at this session.
China believes that the final draft circulated by the co-facilitators is an objective reflection of the previous discussions among member states and has accommodated the positions and concerns of all parties. It has struck a delicate balance, so it is not appropriate to make further drastic changes. The major principles reaffirmed in the Declaration including the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) should not be altered since they are the consensus of the international community and have been reaffirmed time and again at the Rio Conference, Rio+20 and by the SDGs Open Working Group.
Of course, the final draft is not perfect and China also finds many elements not to its satisfaction. However, China is willing to take a constructive and flexible approach in order to work with others towards an early agreement. During the consultations on the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the G77 and China made significant concessions. We hope that other countries will demonstrate similar flexibility and constructiveness in this final stage of our negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda.
Regarding the final draft, I wish to put forward the following technical revision proposals:
First, in “our vision” of the Declaration, China suggests that we should incorporate the ideas of “fair and equitable”, “open and inclusive”, “transformative and innovative” and “comprehensive and coherent” into international development cooperation as a new-type of development approach. The wording could be: provide all countries with equal development opportunities and create a favorable external environment for development under the principle of fairness and equitability; foster models of an open economy and all-dimensional connectivity under the principle of openness and inclusiveness; accelerate economic restructuring and nurture new economic growth points in the spirit of transformation and innovation.
On climate change, para 27 reads, “We underscore the responsibility of all states to work for a meaningful and universal climate agreement”. This wording does not reflect the relevant principles and provisions enshrined in the UNFCCC. We would suggest to replace it with “we underscore the commitment of all states to work for a meaningful and universal climate agreement”, and add, “UNFCCC is the primary international intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change and its principles and provisions should be adhered to”.
Secondly, on the SDGs. China appreciates complete inclusion of the SDGs the final draft. We have also noted that some technical revisions of targets have been included in the text. It is our view that technical revisions of targets should focus on those that have not yet been clarified, namely, the targets that contain X and Y. We should avoid revising other targets so as not to reopen negotiations on the SDGs.
Thirdly, on means of implementation. China appreciates the retention in the final draft of the targets concerning means of implementation for the SDGs. On that basis, China agrees to have the outcome document of the Addis Conference as an annex. We can also further improve and supplement means of implementation taking into account the outcome of the Addis Conference.
Fourthly, on follow-up and review. China agrees that follow-up and review should adhere to the principles of voluntariness, national ownership, and should be based on facts and data. We appreciate the adjustments made in the final draft regarding follow-up and review at the national level, which offer greater policy space and control to the governments. China supports the core role of High Level Political Forum in the follow-up and review of the post-2015 development agenda. We believe it necessary to further strengthen the monitoring of the means of implementation at the international level, with a focus on the ODA commitments, technology transfer, and capacity building.
We have entered the final stage of our negotiations. It is a time for all parties to fully demonstrate political will to build political consensus and work together in a cooperative spirit to complete our negotiations as scheduled, thus creating a favorable atmosphere for the upcoming UN Development Summit.
Thank you, Mr. Co-facilitators.
July 21, 2015
Mr. Co-facilitators,
China associates itself with the statement by South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
China appreciates the active effort by the co-facilitators to build political consensus and bridge the differences among the member states. I wish to thank you for providing the final draft of the post-2015 development agenda for discussions at this session.
China believes that the final draft circulated by the co-facilitators is an objective reflection of the previous discussions among member states and has accommodated the positions and concerns of all parties. It has struck a delicate balance, so it is not appropriate to make further drastic changes. The major principles reaffirmed in the Declaration including the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) should not be altered since they are the consensus of the international community and have been reaffirmed time and again at the Rio Conference, Rio+20 and by the SDGs Open Working Group.
Of course, the final draft is not perfect and China also finds many elements not to its satisfaction. However, China is willing to take a constructive and flexible approach in order to work with others towards an early agreement. During the consultations on the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the G77 and China made significant concessions. We hope that other countries will demonstrate similar flexibility and constructiveness in this final stage of our negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda.
Regarding the final draft, I wish to put forward the following technical revision proposals:
First, in “our vision” of the Declaration, China suggests that we should incorporate the ideas of “fair and equitable”, “open and inclusive”, “transformative and innovative” and “comprehensive and coherent” into international development cooperation as a new-type of development approach. The wording could be: provide all countries with equal development opportunities and create a favorable external environment for development under the principle of fairness and equitability; foster models of an open economy and all-dimensional connectivity under the principle of openness and inclusiveness; accelerate economic restructuring and nurture new economic growth points in the spirit of transformation and innovation.
On climate change, para 27 reads, “We underscore the responsibility of all states to work for a meaningful and universal climate agreement”. This wording does not reflect the relevant principles and provisions enshrined in the UNFCCC. We would suggest to replace it with “we underscore the commitment of all states to work for a meaningful and universal climate agreement”, and add, “UNFCCC is the primary international intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change and its principles and provisions should be adhered to”.
Secondly, on the SDGs. China appreciates complete inclusion of the SDGs the final draft. We have also noted that some technical revisions of targets have been included in the text. It is our view that technical revisions of targets should focus on those that have not yet been clarified, namely, the targets that contain X and Y. We should avoid revising other targets so as not to reopen negotiations on the SDGs.
Thirdly, on means of implementation. China appreciates the retention in the final draft of the targets concerning means of implementation for the SDGs. On that basis, China agrees to have the outcome document of the Addis Conference as an annex. We can also further improve and supplement means of implementation taking into account the outcome of the Addis Conference.
Fourthly, on follow-up and review. China agrees that follow-up and review should adhere to the principles of voluntariness, national ownership, and should be based on facts and data. We appreciate the adjustments made in the final draft regarding follow-up and review at the national level, which offer greater policy space and control to the governments. China supports the core role of High Level Political Forum in the follow-up and review of the post-2015 development agenda. We believe it necessary to further strengthen the monitoring of the means of implementation at the international level, with a focus on the ODA commitments, technology transfer, and capacity building.
We have entered the final stage of our negotiations. It is a time for all parties to fully demonstrate political will to build political consensus and work together in a cooperative spirit to complete our negotiations as scheduled, thus creating a favorable atmosphere for the upcoming UN Development Summit.
Thank you, Mr. Co-facilitators.
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