China actively backs, pursues sustainable development: FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday that China actively supports and pursues sustainable development, vowing to make a greater contribution to making the planet a lovely home for mankind.

Wang's remarks came in a keynote speech during the inauguration of the Leaders Dialogue of the United NationsHigh-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which is themed "From Vision to Action".

Hailing sustainable development as a basic state policy of China, the minister made it clear that China is now actively implementing a scientific outlook on development that puts people first and promotes comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development.

"From 2006 to 2010, we cut energy consumption by 630 million tons of standard coal equivalent through energy saving and energy efficiency improvement, which equals 1.46 billion tons less of CO2 emission," said Wang.

Going on to discuss the topic on a global level, Wang called for joint efforts to promote ecological progress, citing respecting the law of nature and following its will as key.

Speaking of fostering a favorable environment for the development, he stressed that sustainable development cannot gain ground in the absence of a real and solid recovery of the global economy and a sound international trade and investment climate.

"We should improve global economic governance and make it fairer and more equitable. We should uphold a free, open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, and oppose protectionism in all forms," he added.

While admitting sustainable development is a common cause for all mankind, he also urged that the differences between developed and developing countries in level, resources, and means of development, should be taken into account.

"Given their different basic national conditions, developing countries, including the emerging economies, and developed countries have different historical responsibilities and immediate obligations... Imposing uniformity and ignoring differences is to dodge or even shirk the responsibilities of developed countries," said the minister.

He further noted that in pursuing sustainable development, social issues should be high on the agenda so that everyone contributes to and benefits from the development.

He called on humankind to be innovative in the thinking, model, and method of development, given that the traditional way of development -- depleting resources and damaging the environment -- have proved to be unsustainable.

He concluded his speech with an appeal for sincerity and effort from all countries.

"The establishment of this forum brings opportunities for sustainable development. I hope the forum's work will be down to earth and efficient, generating solutions while conducting discussions, and take actions while making decisions," said the minister.