China
1
Please Check Against Delivery. (Translation)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Liu Jiang, Vice Chairman of National Development
and Reform Commission of the People ?s Republic of China
and Head of the Chinese Delegation, a t the High-level Segment
of the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
( 28 April 2004, New York )
Mr. Chairman and distinguished representatives:
First of all, I would like to extend my thanks, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to the
Bureau and the Secretariat for their excellent organization of this meeting.
Since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), sustainable development has
made encouraged strides at the global level. However, we should not be too optimist ic about
its progress. Many problems, such as poverty and hunger, waste of resources, destruction of
ecological environment and fatal epidemic diseases , are calling desperately for solutions. The
greatest obstacle in the way is still the lack of means of implementation. The developing
countries are troubled with shortage of financial resources, technologies and capability.
Although ODA has witnessed a slight rebound, it is still far from reaching the promised target.
Multilateral trade talks have stagnated, leaving various trade barriers unmoved for the
developing countries. Concrete actions are absent in technology transfer.
In dealing with the above problems, the Chinese delegation puts forward the following three
suggestions:
First, each country should take its own responsibilities and adopt appropriate sustainable
development strategies and measures, in accordance with its specific national conditions. The
ten-year implementation of ?China?s Agenda 21? has proved that the global development
agenda should be promoted through the implementation of each country?s development
strategy. The macro-management and comprehensive planning functions of Governments
shall play a key role in this regard.
Second, the international community should strive to create an enabling international
economic environment, by understanding the difficulties faced by the developing countries,
as well as their reasonable requirements, and provide concrete assistance to the developing
countries in prioritized fields. Water, sanitation and human settlements are issues directly
related to the survival and development of grassroots masses in the developing countries. The
arduous task to address these issues, together with its widespread implication and great
number of to-be-benefited population, should be regarded as priorities for global sustainable
development and win intensive support.
2
Third, the leadership of the United Nations on sustainable development should be
strengthened, so as to further mobilize political will in the international community. The
nearly 60-year history of the United Nations has demonstrated that setting positive and
explicit goals is the important means of promoting global development agenda. The United
Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and targets set by the WSSD are the joint
commitments that leaders from various countries made to the new millennium. They serve as
the benchmark for the progress that we make. Moreover, they spur the international
community to move forward. The United Nations should unremittingly pursue these goals
and put them into practice in various ways.
Mr. Chairman,
With a large population, shortage of resources and unbalanced regional development, it is
natural that China?s sustainable development attracts the attention of the international
community. After years of hard work, China has laid a foundation for the achievement of
MDGs. However, many difficulties remain ahead, and the key to resolve them lies in
accelerating development. Looking into the future, the Chinese Government has brought
forward a scientific view of development, which is all-round, balanced and sustainable. The
Government has combined the goal of building a relatively prosperous society with MDGs
and made it an important guidance to China?s sustainable development. The Chinese
Government and the United Nations Country Team in China successfully held the High-level
International Conference on MDGs in Beijing last month, which significantly strengthened
the cooperation between our two sides. More similar activities will be held in the future. The
Chinese delegation will introduce the progress that China has made in the fields of water,
sanitation and human settlements during a high-level special event, which will be held at
lunchtime today. Your attendance will be more than welcome!
Thank you!
Please Check Against Delivery. (Translation)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Liu Jiang, Vice Chairman of National Development
and Reform Commission of the People ?s Republic of China
and Head of the Chinese Delegation, a t the High-level Segment
of the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
( 28 April 2004, New York )
Mr. Chairman and distinguished representatives:
First of all, I would like to extend my thanks, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to the
Bureau and the Secretariat for their excellent organization of this meeting.
Since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), sustainable development has
made encouraged strides at the global level. However, we should not be too optimist ic about
its progress. Many problems, such as poverty and hunger, waste of resources, destruction of
ecological environment and fatal epidemic diseases , are calling desperately for solutions. The
greatest obstacle in the way is still the lack of means of implementation. The developing
countries are troubled with shortage of financial resources, technologies and capability.
Although ODA has witnessed a slight rebound, it is still far from reaching the promised target.
Multilateral trade talks have stagnated, leaving various trade barriers unmoved for the
developing countries. Concrete actions are absent in technology transfer.
In dealing with the above problems, the Chinese delegation puts forward the following three
suggestions:
First, each country should take its own responsibilities and adopt appropriate sustainable
development strategies and measures, in accordance with its specific national conditions. The
ten-year implementation of ?China?s Agenda 21? has proved that the global development
agenda should be promoted through the implementation of each country?s development
strategy. The macro-management and comprehensive planning functions of Governments
shall play a key role in this regard.
Second, the international community should strive to create an enabling international
economic environment, by understanding the difficulties faced by the developing countries,
as well as their reasonable requirements, and provide concrete assistance to the developing
countries in prioritized fields. Water, sanitation and human settlements are issues directly
related to the survival and development of grassroots masses in the developing countries. The
arduous task to address these issues, together with its widespread implication and great
number of to-be-benefited population, should be regarded as priorities for global sustainable
development and win intensive support.
2
Third, the leadership of the United Nations on sustainable development should be
strengthened, so as to further mobilize political will in the international community. The
nearly 60-year history of the United Nations has demonstrated that setting positive and
explicit goals is the important means of promoting global development agenda. The United
Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and targets set by the WSSD are the joint
commitments that leaders from various countries made to the new millennium. They serve as
the benchmark for the progress that we make. Moreover, they spur the international
community to move forward. The United Nations should unremittingly pursue these goals
and put them into practice in various ways.
Mr. Chairman,
With a large population, shortage of resources and unbalanced regional development, it is
natural that China?s sustainable development attracts the attention of the international
community. After years of hard work, China has laid a foundation for the achievement of
MDGs. However, many difficulties remain ahead, and the key to resolve them lies in
accelerating development. Looking into the future, the Chinese Government has brought
forward a scientific view of development, which is all-round, balanced and sustainable. The
Government has combined the goal of building a relatively prosperous society with MDGs
and made it an important guidance to China?s sustainable development. The Chinese
Government and the United Nations Country Team in China successfully held the High-level
International Conference on MDGs in Beijing last month, which significantly strengthened
the cooperation between our two sides. More similar activities will be held in the future. The
Chinese delegation will introduce the progress that China has made in the fields of water,
sanitation and human settlements during a high-level special event, which will be held at
lunchtime today. Your attendance will be more than welcome!
Thank you!
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