China
Statement by Dr. Liu Yuyin at the intergovernmental preparatory meeting
for CSD 17 on the question of Africa
Feb. 26, 2009 New York
Madam Chairman,
The Chinese delegation would like to thank the Secretary General for
his report on the question of Africa. It associates itself with the statement
made by the Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Madam Chairman,
As the continent with the largest number of developing countries,
Africa has long suffered from various constraints such as backward
infrastructure, weak foundation of agricultural production, degradation of
land and ecological environment, frequent natural disasters, low industrial
output, poor sanitary conditions, unfair trade environment and heavy debt
burden, all of which have seriously hampered its effort to realize food
security and eradicate poverty. For the majority of African countries, the
realization of the MDGs is an arduous task and sustainable development an
elusive dream.
The sustainable development of Africa requires not only the efforts of
the African countries themselves, but also the greater support of the
international community in the spirit of global development partnership.
Here, I?d like to stress the following three points:
First, it is necessary to create an external environment favorable to the
realization of development of the African countries. In formulating the
relevant economic, financial and trade regulations and policies, the
international community should take into full consideration the special
situation of Africa and give the African countries a greater representation
and a bigger say so that they can have the ability and opportunity to integrate
in the world economy and gradually grow stronger. The developed countries
should effectively increase assistance, open their markets, provide debt relief
and cut back on strings attached. At the same time, it is necessary to bear in
mind the needs of the African countries, ensure that assistance go to the right
priorities, improve the quality of assistance and help the African countries
with capacity building so as to enhance their ability to attract foreign direct
investment and to raise funds by themselves.
Secondly, it is necessary to provide genuine help to the African
countries in developing agriculture and maintaining food security. The
international community should increase support for African agricultural
development to help the African counties establish and improve
infrastructure, upgrade farming technology, spread the use of improved
variety of crops and chemical fertilizers, promote crop diversification,
increase food production and improve food storage technologies. The major
developed countries should drastically reduce their trade distorting
agricultural subsidies to give African agricultural products access to the
international market, thus creating an environment of fair competition for the
agricultural production of the African countries. It is also necessary to take
measures to help the African countries strengthen management and improve
their capacity for reproduction.
Thirdly, it is necessary to help the African countries enhance the
ability to respond to climate change and to combat desertification. The
international community should continue to uphold the basic framework
established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, adhere to
the principle of ?common but differentiated responsibilities?, promote
international cooperation in the field of climate change and fulfill
commitments in financial assistance and technological transfer to the
developing countries, including the African countries. We must fully
recognize the severity of the problem of desertification in Africa, take
practical measures to integrate closely efforts to eradicate poverty, respond
to climate change and combat desertification, increase investment by large
amounts, extend applicable technologies and mobilize the participation of all
sectors to help the African countries get out of the vicious circle of poverty
and desertification.
We hope that the discussions at this session will produce practical and
effective policies and provide positive help to the sustainable development
of the African countries.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
for CSD 17 on the question of Africa
Feb. 26, 2009 New York
Madam Chairman,
The Chinese delegation would like to thank the Secretary General for
his report on the question of Africa. It associates itself with the statement
made by the Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Madam Chairman,
As the continent with the largest number of developing countries,
Africa has long suffered from various constraints such as backward
infrastructure, weak foundation of agricultural production, degradation of
land and ecological environment, frequent natural disasters, low industrial
output, poor sanitary conditions, unfair trade environment and heavy debt
burden, all of which have seriously hampered its effort to realize food
security and eradicate poverty. For the majority of African countries, the
realization of the MDGs is an arduous task and sustainable development an
elusive dream.
The sustainable development of Africa requires not only the efforts of
the African countries themselves, but also the greater support of the
international community in the spirit of global development partnership.
Here, I?d like to stress the following three points:
First, it is necessary to create an external environment favorable to the
realization of development of the African countries. In formulating the
relevant economic, financial and trade regulations and policies, the
international community should take into full consideration the special
situation of Africa and give the African countries a greater representation
and a bigger say so that they can have the ability and opportunity to integrate
in the world economy and gradually grow stronger. The developed countries
should effectively increase assistance, open their markets, provide debt relief
and cut back on strings attached. At the same time, it is necessary to bear in
mind the needs of the African countries, ensure that assistance go to the right
priorities, improve the quality of assistance and help the African countries
with capacity building so as to enhance their ability to attract foreign direct
investment and to raise funds by themselves.
Secondly, it is necessary to provide genuine help to the African
countries in developing agriculture and maintaining food security. The
international community should increase support for African agricultural
development to help the African counties establish and improve
infrastructure, upgrade farming technology, spread the use of improved
variety of crops and chemical fertilizers, promote crop diversification,
increase food production and improve food storage technologies. The major
developed countries should drastically reduce their trade distorting
agricultural subsidies to give African agricultural products access to the
international market, thus creating an environment of fair competition for the
agricultural production of the African countries. It is also necessary to take
measures to help the African countries strengthen management and improve
their capacity for reproduction.
Thirdly, it is necessary to help the African countries enhance the
ability to respond to climate change and to combat desertification. The
international community should continue to uphold the basic framework
established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, adhere to
the principle of ?common but differentiated responsibilities?, promote
international cooperation in the field of climate change and fulfill
commitments in financial assistance and technological transfer to the
developing countries, including the African countries. We must fully
recognize the severity of the problem of desertification in Africa, take
practical measures to integrate closely efforts to eradicate poverty, respond
to climate change and combat desertification, increase investment by large
amounts, extend applicable technologies and mobilize the participation of all
sectors to help the African countries get out of the vicious circle of poverty
and desertification.
We hope that the discussions at this session will produce practical and
effective policies and provide positive help to the sustainable development
of the African countries.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
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