China: Statement on Sustainable Development
New York, 25 October 2006: In a statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, Liu Zhenmin, china outlined its views on sustainable development, small island developing States, disasters, climate change and UNEP.
On sustainable development China said it was necessary to build global partnership and strengthen international cooperation. He said to achieve objectives of sustainable development in the world require an unprecedentedly wide scope of actions, whereas national development level, governance capacity, and financial and technical situation are vastly different. It is exactly because of this, in both Agenda 21 and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, there are explicit provisions indicating that developing countries should receive financial assistance and transfer of environmentally-sound technologies on preferential terms, and that an enabling environment should be established to help them to get rid of their shackles and embark on the road of sustainable development. He said whether the above-mentioned pledges can be fulfilled has a direct bearing on global process of sustainable development and called on developed countries should earnestly fulfil their commitments.
On Small Island Developing States (SIDS) China stressed that the international community should fulfil the financial commitment, accelerate technical transfer, especially those technologies for developing and using cost-effective and renewable energies. China notes it was essential to enhance capacity building of SIDS, especially in terms of institutes and personnel training in such areas as improving energy efficiency, evaluating vulnerability, formulating strategies for adaptation to climate change, collecting and studying data of climate change. China urged that the fundamental concerns of SIDS be dealt with and said that the international community should adopt practical measures to help SIDS better respond to the disastrous consequences of climate change, sea level rise and extreme weather events.
On the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction China said it was necessary to act in the following four areas: First, we should earnestly put into action of Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, and reinforce international and regional cooperation on disaster reduction. Second, we should build regional cooperation mechanism for supervision, early warning and evaluation of major natural disasters, so as to reduce the negative effects to the lowest level. Third, we should enhance exchange and sharing of disaster reduction information and experience. Four, support should be increased to assist developing countries in capacity building.
On climate change, China said the international community faces two tasks in dealing with climate change. The first is to comprehensively implement the convention and the protocol. The second is to push for smooth conclusion of talks on post 2012 greenhouse emissions reduction target by developed countries. China called upon countries concerned to face squarely their historical emission responsibility and current high average per capita emission level, pledge to take further emission reduction/limitation measures after 2012, strengthen technical cooperation with and transfer of technology to developing countries, promote sustainable development and improve global capacity in responding to climate change. China said it was ready to work with the rest of the international community to firmly abide by the basic principles of the Convention, continue to support the model of the Kyoto Protocol, and explore ways of responding to climate change that are suitable to different national conditions and can mobilize enthusiasms of all countries.
On UNEP, China said it supports the efforts to strengthen the UNEP, and improve its efficiency and authority and stressed that these relevant measures should help promote coordinated development of national economic, social and environmental protection, and especially meet the special needs of developing countries, so as to improve their comprehensive capacity to deal with environment related issues.
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Source: China’s Mission to the UN, 2006