People's Republic of China, 2011

I

wish to begin by congratulating Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz

Al-Nasser on having assumed the presidency of the

General Assembly at its current session. I am confident

that, with his outstanding ability and great experience,

he will fulfil his lofty mission. I also wish to thank

Mr. Deiss for his contribution as President at the

previous session. I further wish to take this opportunity

to warmly congratulate the Republic of South Sudan on

becoming the 193rd member of the United Nations

family.

The first decade of the twenty-first century is

now behind us. During that decade, the trend towards a

multipolar world and economic globalization gained

momentum. Countries became increasingly

interdependent. Revolutions in science and technology

brought profound transformations to human society.

However, various traditional and non-traditional

security threats and global challenges were intertwined

with those changes, and the world was far from a

peaceful place.

As the second decade of the new century begins,

the world has entered an extraordinary historical stage

in its pursuit of peace and development, and continues

to undergo profound and complex changes. Uncertainty

and instability are increasing despite the generally

peaceful international environment. Development is

becoming an increasingly serious issue, and promoting

common development has become a more important

and pressing task than ever before.

Global development is now at a new critical

juncture. Global recovery remains fragile, international

financial markets are volatile and the pursuit of

sustainable development faces daunting challenges.

The world economy therefore has to meet the crucial

test of maintaining growth. Some countries in West

Asia and North Africa are in continual political

turmoil. Terrorist threats are spreading and global

challenges growing. The international community faces

a critical test in maintaining stability.

The gap in development between the South and

the North is as wide as ever. The number of people

living in absolute poverty has increased by 64 million

owing to the international financial crisis. Nearly

1 billion people suffer from starvation. Urgent action is

needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

It is imperative to step up international cooperation to

help the least developed countries (LDCs) meet the

basic needs of their people. In the face of these

challenges, we share an important mission to achieve

common development, and we also have rare new

opportunities.

Economic globalization has made the interests of

countries more closely interconnected. Ensuring

security through cooperation and promoting

development through stability has become our shared

desire. Countries are addressing development

challenges in innovative ways. To overcome the crisis,

developed countries have taken steps to improve their

fiscal conditions, adopted stimulus measures and

accelerated economic structural adjustment.

Developing countries as a whole have maintained good

growth momentum. In particular, the rapid growth in

some emerging economies has driven the growth of the

world economy.

Progress has been made in the reform of the

global economic governance structure, and various

regional cooperation mechanisms are expanding.

Efforts to accelerate the development of a green

economy and explore new modes of sustainable growth

have created new momentum and space for common

development. Faced with new opportunities and

challenges, we should work as a team to overcome our

difficulties and pursue mutual benefit and common

development. This is the responsibility and mission

that history bestows upon all of us. To fulfil our

mission, we need to take the following steps.

We should foster sound momentum for global

economic recovery. The underlying impact of the

international financial crisis has yet to dissipate, and

economic recovery is still fragile and uneven. We

should intensify consultation and coordination, and

send a strong message of solidarity and win-win

cooperation so as to strengthen international

confidence in global recovery and growth. We should

work for a fair, just, inclusive and orderly international

monetary and financial system, and promote the voice

and representation of emerging markets and developing

countries.

China supports the transition of the Group of

20 (G-20) from a short-term crisis response mechanism

to a long-term mechanism of economic governance.

The G-20 should play a bigger role in global economic

governance and in promoting the full recovery and

growth of the world economy.

11-51384 42

We support the efforts of emerging markets to

explore new modes of international economic

cooperation. We strongly oppose protectionism in all

its forms and call for strengthening the multilateral

trading regime. The concerns of the least developed

countries should be addressed, and efforts made to

make the Doha Round achieve its development

objectives.

We should lay the political foundation for

cooperative development. All countries, big or small,

strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the

international community, and their equal right to

development should be protected. Mutual respect and

equality are the basic norms governing international

relations and constitute an important guarantee for

common development. In the current context, it is of

particular and practical importance to adhere to the

purposes and principles of the Charter of the United

Nations, to uphold the authority and role of the United

Nations, to observe in good faith the principle of

non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and to

promote democracy in international relations.

We should respect the sovereignty and territorial

integrity of all countries. The internal affairs of each

country should be decided by its own people. We

oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs

by whatever means and under whatever pretext.

The diversity of the world is a valuable asset for

the development of human society. It should be seen as

a positive factor that allows countries to learn from one

another, and should not be used as an excuse for the

big to bully the small or the rich to ride roughshod over

the poor in international relations. We should respect

the right of each country to pursue the development

path of its choice and we should respect the diversity

of civilizations. We should seek common progress by

drawing on one another’s strength with an open and

inclusive mind, pursuing common ground while

preserving differences.

We should foster a security environment

conducive to stability and development. History has

repeatedly shown that stability and development go

hand in hand. Without stability, there can be no

development; without development, there can be no

stability. In keeping with the purposes and principles of

the United Nations Charter, we should always use

peaceful means to settle international disputes and

hotspot issues. We should oppose the wilful use or

threat of force, terrorism, separatism and extremism in

all their forms, and we should uphold the common

security of humankind.

China respects the independent choice of the

people of the Sudan and South Sudan, and hopes that

the new-born country of South Sudan will enjoy

stability and development. The international

community should continue to support and encourage

the Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their outstanding

issues appropriately through dialogue and consultation,

pursue amicable relations and common development,

and uphold regional peace and stability. China has

encouraged the Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their

dispute through peaceful negotiation and has worked

hard to advance the peace process between them. We

support the proper settlement of the Darfur issue. We

will continue to work with the international community

to play a constructive role in advancing regional peace,

stability and development.

China has consistently supported the just cause of

establishing an independent Palestinian State, and

supports Palestine’s membership in the United Nations.

We support efforts to achieve a two-State solution

through political negotiation so as to establish, on the

basis of the 1967 borders, an independent Palestinian

State that enjoys full sovereignty, with East Jerusalem

as its capital. We believe that progress should be made

in parallel in the peace talks between Syria and Israel

and Lebanon and Israel, with an ultimate view to

achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in

the Middle East along with peaceful coexistence

between the Arab countries and Israel. We hope that

the international community and the parties concerned

will make unremitting efforts to this end and sustain

the Middle East peace process.

China is greatly concerned about the turbulence

in West Asia and North Africa. We stand for the

principle of non-interference. We respect and support

the efforts of countries in those regions to

independently handle their internal affairs, and we

respect their aspirations. We hope that the parties

concerned will resolve their differences through

political dialogue and speedily restore stability and

order in their respective countries.

Libya has now entered a critical transition from a

state of war and turmoil to national reconstruction.

China respects the choice of the Libyan people and

recognizes the National Transitional Council (NTC) as

43 11-51384

the governing authority of Libya and the representative

of its people. We hope that, under the leadership of the

NTC, the parties in Libya will launch an inclusive

process of political transition through which they will

maintain ethnic harmony and national unity, restore

stability as soon as possible and begin economic

reconstruction. China supports the leading role of the

United Nations in Libya’s post-conflict reconstruction,

and urges the speediest possible operationalization of

the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.

China is also greatly concerned about

developments in Syria. We hope that parties in Syria

will exercise restraint, avoid all violence, further

bloodshed and conflict, and act quickly to ease

tensions. We believe that a Syria-led, inclusive political

process aimed at promoting reform through dialogue

and consultation is the right way to resolve the current

crisis in Syria. The international community should

respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial

integrity of Syria, and address the Syrian issue

cautiously so as to prevent further turbulence and

repercussions on regional peace.

China welcomes the positive developments on the

Korean peninsula. We believe that dialogue and

consultation are the only effective way to address the

issues of the peninsula. The Six-Party Talks are an

effective mechanism for advancing the denuclearization

of the Korean peninsula and for upholding peace and

stability both on the peninsula and in North-East Asia.

China has worked hard to promote peace through

dialogue, and has played a unique role in easing

tensions and maintaining peace and stability on the

Korean peninsula. China welcomes the recent

resumption of dialogue between the Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea,

as well as between the Democratic People’s Republic

of Korea and the United States. We hope that the

parties concerned will seize the opportunity, remain

engaged in dialogue and work for an early resumption

of the Six-Party Talks.

We should promote balanced development

between the South and the North. The uneven

development between South and North is the biggest

imbalance in the global economy. Without balanced

development, there can hardly be sustainable

development. Unless underdeveloped countries shake

off poverty and grow their economies, there can be no

common global prosperity.

Achieving the Millennium Development Goals on

a global scale and on schedule is an urgent and arduous

task. Developed countries should honour their

commitments on official development assistance, open

their markets, reduce and cancel debt, and their step up

financial and technological support to developing

countries. International financial institutions should

use their resources to help developing countries, and

particularly the LDCs, on a priority basis. Developing

countries, on their part, should explore growth models

that are conducive to development and poverty

alleviation in order to achieve a higher level of

development.

Food security has emerged as a major challenge.

The Horn of Africa is suffering from massive famine

triggered by the most severe drought in 60 years. The

international community should scale up assistance,

stabilize the price of food and other commodities, and

help developing countries enhance their capacity for

autonomous development so that all countries and

regions can enjoy the benefits of common

development.

The world witnessed major development,

transformation and adjustment in the first decade of the

twenty-first century. During this period, China enjoyed

sustained and fast development, and its relations with

the outside world underwent profound changes.

China’s achievements in development, and its possible

future course, have become a focus of international

attention. Over the past 10 years, China’s economy

continued to grow, and its people’s living standards

rose markedly, thanks to the hard work of the Chinese

people. Today, China has become the world’s second-

largest economy, largest exporter, second-largest

importer and largest emerging market. The basic living

needs of China’s 1.3 billion people are being

adequately met, and the number living in absolute

poverty has fallen drastically.

On the other hand, the difficulties China faces in

terms of development should not be ignored. We

remain a developing country with a large population, a

weak economic foundation and serious imbalances and

lack of coordination in our development. China will

have to make persistent and strenuous efforts to

achieve its development goals. Guided by our recently

adopted twelfth five-year plan for economic and social

development, we will pursue scientific development,

accelerate the shift in our growth model, advance

scientific and technological innovation and increase

11-51384 44

reforms and openness designed to promote long-term,

steady and fast economic development, as well as

social harmony and progress. The world will see a

more open China, with more sustainable development

and greater social harmony.

China’s development has brought real benefits to

the Chinese people and contributed to global

development and prosperity. During the past 10 years,

China imported close to, on average, $750 billion

worth of goods annually, creating more than 14 million

jobs for the relevant countries and regions. At the end

of the twelfth five-year period in 2015, China’s total

economic output will be around $8.6 trillion. It is

expected that China will import about $10 trillion in

goods in the next five years, which will further boost

world economic growth. China needs the world in

order to be able to continue to develop, and China’s

development will in turn contribute more to the shared

development of the world as a whole.

As a developing country, China is committed to

enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation with other

developing countries, based on equality, and to

enhancing its efforts to provide them with assistance

and support. China has cancelled 380 debts incurred by

50 heavily indebted poor countries and LDCs, and will

phase in zero-tariff treatment for 95 per cent of exports

from the African LDCs with which China has

diplomatic relations. We have completed more than

2,100 projects, including building schools and

hospitals, in other developing countries, and trained

150,000 professionals in various fields for them. In

sympathy with the pain of the countries and people in

the Horn of Africa hit by famine, China has decided to

provide those countries with RMB443.2 million in

emergency food assistance and cash for purchasing

food to help them overcome the famine.

China has made notable efforts to achieve the

Millennium Development Goals. As it continues to

develop, China will create more opportunities for

world peace, development and cooperation. To advance

common development, we must foster a sound

international environment. Over the years, China has

been dedicated to creating a peaceful international

environment in which it can develop. At the same time,

it has contributed to enhancing world peace through its

own development. China has actively assumed

international responsibilities as its capacity permits,

and has worked to promote the peaceful settlement of

issues in troubled areas.

China participates actively in international

peacekeeping operations; with a total of more than

19,000 personnel deployed in 28 United Nations

peacekeeping missions, China is the largest contributor

of United Nations peacekeeping personnel among

Security Council permanent members. China has

provided assistance in cash and kind to countries hit by

earthquakes and tsunamis, and has sent rescue teams to

carry out humanitarian relief operations in the affected

areas. China is actively involved in the fight against

piracy and in other areas of international cooperation.

All these efforts have contributed to maintaining world

peace and stability.

The tide of history is surging forward. In the next

decade, peace, development and cooperation will

remain trends of the times, and China will not waver in

its pursuit of development and progress. Peaceful

development is the strategic choice that China has

made to build a modern, strong and prosperous country

and to make a greater contribution to the progress of

human civilization. China will stay on that path,

pursuing an independent, peaceful foreign policy and a

win-win strategy of opening up its society.

We are committed to achieving a better life for

the Chinese people and greater development and

prosperity for all humankind. We will achieve those

goals through hard work, reforms and innovation, and

by conducting long-term friendly exchanges and

establishing equality-based, win-win cooperation with

other countries. A prosperous, harmonious and stable

China that lives up to its responsibilities will make a

greater contribution to the prosperity and stability of

the world and the common development of humankind.

Let us work together to deepen cooperation and

achieve development by sharing opportunities and

meeting challenges together, and thus build a

harmonious world of lasting peace and common

prosperity.