Mr. Chair,
Let me start by extending, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, congratulations on your election as the chair of this general conference. I also want to express our satisfaction and appreciation to your predecessor and his team for their hard work.
It is highly meaningful for member countries of UNIDO to gather here today to jointly explore the future of world industrial development. We are delighted to see that since taking office in 2013, Director General Li Yong has led his team in creatively proposing the idea of “inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID)”, which has been incorporated into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China wants to congratulate Director-General Li and UNIDO for this new phase of development that the organization has embarked upon.
Mr. Chair,
The government of China attaches great importance to its cooperation with UNIDO. Since 1979, the two sides have carried out a large number of collaborative projects in industrial development, trade capacity building and environmental protection. In particular, since 2013, the Chinese government has provided voluntary donation worth USD 20 million to the organization. We have given strong support to UNIDO in promoting the idea of “inclusive and sustainable industrial development”, and encouraged capable Chinese enterprises to take part in the program for country partnership to help developing countries achieve sustainable industrial development. Building on our mutually beneficial cooperation, we are opening a chapter in our relationship.
Mr. Chair,
It is our shared mission to realize sustainable industrial development, which has presented itself as a major trend in global industrial development. The coming 15 years will be a crucial period for all countries to achieve this goal. Taking the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the new starting point, member countries should forge consensus and work closely together to achieve common development with win-win outcomes. To this purpose, I’d like to make the following proposals.
First, strengthen member countries’ capacity for sustainable industrial development. Sustainable industrial development, after all, depends on one’s own national efforts. Countries should adopt sustainable industrial development strategies in light of their actual conditions. The international community should help developing countries build up their capacity by providing targeted support and assistance tailored to their needs.
Second, enhance cooperation on sustainable industrial development. Improving development partnership and international development cooperation is a key way to realize sustainable industrial development. The international community should uphold north-south cooperation as the premier channel, deepen south-south cooperation, explore tripartite collaboration and encourage other stakeholders like the private sector to play a bigger role in the partnership, with a view to ensuring sufficient resources and strong momentum for global sustainable industrial development. Developed countries should accelerate technology transfer to developing countries to help them achieve sustainable industrial development. Developing countries should strengthen capacity building by fostering a local talent pool and technology base and enhance their capability for independent development. Moreover, we should translate the economic complementarity of developing countries into development synergy for win-win results.
Third, improve the international environment for sustainable industrial development. To achieve sustainable industrial development, it is important to uphold and promote an open world economy, build a fair, equitable, inclusive and rules-based international economic and financial system, and create an enabling external environment for the development of developing countries. International financial institutions should step up governance reforms while multi-lateral development institutions like UNIDO should increase their input in development.
Mr. Chair,
China’s initiatives to jointly build the belt and road, establish the AIIB, and launch the Silk Road Foundation are aimed at enhancing infrastructure connectivity and strengthening capacity for development in developing countries, thus contributing to their economic development and livelihood improvement.
China will leverage these initiatives to be an active part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are ready to work with other members to bring global development to a new level.
In closing, I wish the conference a complete success.
Thank you.
