China, UN host high-level video conference on poverty alleviation and South-South cooperation

China hosted together with the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Development Programme a high-level video conference on poverty alleviation and South-South cooperation on September 26. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired and addressed the meeting.

Wang Yi said, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN. It is also the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With COVID-19 still raging in the world, countries face the daunting task to beat the virus while stabilizing the economy and protecting livelihoods. Developing countries have been hit hard by COVID-19. Developed countries have slashed input in international development cooperation. The gap between the North and the South could be widened. At this important moment, it is highly meaningful for China and the UN to co-organize this High-level Video Conference on Poverty Eradication and South-South Cooperation to renew unity and partnership and promote development through cooperation. Developing countries must strengthen unity and cooperation, and keep forging ahead.

First, we need to focus on the 2030 Agenda as a central priority. Development is the foundation for peace and for human survival and dignity. The international community must take a "development first" approach, and place greater importance on the 2030 Agenda. Comprehensive, balanced and robust efforts should be made toward the 17 sustainable development goals and 169 targets. We need to support the UN in galvanizing international efforts to build a new type of global development partnership that is more equal, more balanced, fairer and leaves no one behind. We hope more developing countries will join us in the Belt and Road cooperation to build up connectivity for high-quality development.

Second, we need to work toward no poverty as our primary goal. Poverty confines human freedom and subdues development. It is the root cause of problems and conflicts in many countries and regions. The Alliance for Poverty Eradication recently inaugurated by the UN offers us an opportunity to refocus global attention on poverty reduction cooperation, recommit resources to people's livelihood areas, and galvanize the necessary financial and technological support for developing countries. It is also imperative to end gender discrimination and bias in all forms, and create conditions for lifting women from poverty. We need to increase the exchange of experience in poverty reduction. Using the master key of development, we could unlock the door toward no poverty.

Third, we need to work together for final victory in our battle against COVID-19. We must always follow a people-first approach and put saving lives above all else. We need to strengthen international joint control mechanisms, speed up the research, development, production and distribution of vaccines and make them more accessible and affordable. We need to support the World Health Organization's lead role in global response to the virus. We need to balance and coordinate COVID-19  control and economic recovery. The developed countries and international organizations need to provide more emergency supplies, send more personnel, and deliver on G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative.

Fourth, we need to jointly galvanize South-South cooperation for a new era. South-South cooperation is a central part of developing countries' endeavor to seek strength through unity. It is all the more important to uphold the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance, and boost South-South cooperation through the G77, BRICS and other platforms to empower the collective rise of developing countries through South-South cooperation. We need to unlock the potential of cooperation in digital economy, 5G and other new fields and, through such cooperation, speed up economic restructuring and upgrading. We need to jointly come up with ways to deal with data security risks and improve global digital governance. China recently presented its Global Initiative on Data Security, which hopefully can serve as a basis for international rules-making on data security. We must unequivocally support multilateralism and uphold the UN-centered international system and WTO-centered multilateral trading system. We must defend developing countries' legitimate rights and interests and development space, and further increase the representation and say of developing countries in international affairs.

This year is the year for the completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to end extreme poverty in China. We will overcome the challenges brought by COVID-19, and lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty within this year, thereby meeting the target of eradicating extreme poverty set out in Agenda 2030 ahead of schedule. China is always ready to help others succeed. In such efforts, China puts countries' shared interests first and always seeks to synergize its own development with the common development of all developing countries. Under the framework of South-South cooperation, China has provided much foreign assistance. China will fully deliver on the steps President Xi Jinping announced at the General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, to make new contributions to global poverty reduction and development.

Wang Yi stressed, no matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will always be a staunch member of the developing world; it will stand firm with all developing countries, and remain their reliable friend and true partner. As long as we keep united and forge ahead together, the day will come when all developing countries will shake off poverty. Our South-South cooperation will shine even brighter in humanity's march toward great development.

UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, Under Secretary General Liu Zhenmin and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan as well as foreign ministers or other ministerial representatives of Cambodia, Egypt, Guyana (Chair of the Group of 77), Kazakhstan (Chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries), Laos, Myanmar, Niger, Peru, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, South Africa (Chair of the African Union), and Uganda (Presidency of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation) attended and addressed the meeting. The high-level attendees applauded the initiatives and China's chairing and hosting of the meeting, commended China for the huge achievements in China's cause of poverty alleviation, and congratulated the Chinese side on achieving the goal of shaking off poverty within the year.

The high-level attendees applauded the initiatives and measures announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the high-level events marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN, hailing them as another vivid demonstration of China's commitment to multilateralism, its long-standing support for the UN and South-South cooperation, and its continued contributions to the 2030 Agenda and the common development of the developing world. The meeting expressed concern over the negative impact of COVID-19 on human well-being and global socio-economic development and stressed the need for all countries to remain united. The meeting urged developed countries to honor their commitments and scale up efforts to play a meaningful role in eradicating poverty, and voiced support for the UN in playing a leading role. The high-level attendees emphasized the need to broaden and strengthen the voice and participation of developing countries in international economic governance. The meeting welcomed the Belt and Road Initiative and other regional and international cooperation initiatives which contribute to the implementation of 2030 Agenda.

A Chair's Press Release was published.