Chinese envoy stresses poverty eradication at UN meeting

Poverty eradication constitutes a critical piece in the achievement of sustainable development by developing countries and should remain the center of the post-2015 development agenda, a Chinese envoy to the United Nations said Monday.

"The UN development system should maintain as its central priority realizing poverty eradication through enhancing the developing countries' own capacity of development," Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told a meeting of the Second Committee of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, adding that China believes poverty eradication should remain the center of the post-2015 development agenda.

At the meeting on UN Operational Activities for Development, Wang also stressed that developed countries should bear the primary responsibility for financing for development, honor their Official Development Assistance commitment and increase assistance to developing countries.

On South-South cooperation, Wang said it is a supplement to rather than the replacement of North-South cooperation, which should not weaken or dilute the main role and status of North-South cooperation.

"The UN development system should provide necessary policy and financial support for South-South cooperation, explore innovative thinking and modalities and give further support to the UN office for South-South cooperation," he said.

On the Millennium Development Goals, Wang noted that the Chinese government has always attached great importance to development and has made the achievement of the MDGs an organic part of its comprehensive development strategy.

"As a major developing country, China has always, in the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, pursued a strategy of openness and mutual benefit aimed at achieving win-win results."

"Since 2000, China has provided assistance to more than 120 developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation. During his visit to Africa last March, President Xi Jinping announced a series of new measures to support African development," said Wang, adding that China will continue to participate constructively in international cooperation for development.

"China is also ready to join other countries and the UN development system in exploring further ways and means to strengthen South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, thus contributing to the accelerated achievement of the MDGs in developing countries," he added.