Ambassador Han Zhiqiang Headed the Chinese Delegation to the 79th Session of ESCAP and Delivered a Speech at the General Debate
2023-05-17 18:25

The 79th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) kicked off on 15 May in Bangkok. The theme of the week-long Session is “Accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development”. Over a thousand representatives from ESCAP members and associate members, international organizations and civil society participated in this Session. H.E. Ambassador Han Zhiqiang headed the Chinese delegation to the Session and delivered a speech at the general debate.

Ambassador Han congratulated on the convening of the 79th Commission Session of the UNESCAP, and thanked the Government of Thailand as the host country and the ESCAP secretariat for the thoughtful arrangements for this Commission Session.

Ambassador Han said, we are living in a world of peace and development, meanwhile we are facing multiple challenges including fragile recovery of global economy, prevailing unilateralism and protectionism. Global sustainable development process is encountering headwinds and challenge of climate change is increasing. Only solidarity and cooperation are the right path for Asia-Pacific countries to effectively meet the challenges and achieve sustainable development.

-- Adhering to true multilateralism. Multilateral cooperation is the right choice to advance global climate governance. The international system with the United Nations at its core should be maintained, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should be upheld, and the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement should be brought into play as the main framework for international cooperation in addressing climate change. Developed countries should effectively fulfill their commitments and provide financial, technological and capacity building support to developing countries.

-- Adhering to the development-first and people-centered approach. Development is the master key to solve all problems. We should promote synergy between environmental protection and economic development and poverty eradication, strive to achieve social equity and justice in green transition, and increase people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. China has proposed the Global Development Initiative which is committed to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We welcome the active participation of all partners.

-- Adhering to the green and innovative development. President Xi Jinping said lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. China is actively implementing the new development philosophy, striving to promote high-quality development and promote the creation of a new development dynamic. Asia-Pacific countries should follow the overall direction of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, take innovation as the driving force, vigorously promote the transformation and upgrading of economic, energy and industrial structures, make a good ecological environment an important support for sustainable economic and social development in the Asia-Pacific region, and jointly build a community of life for man and nature.

--Adhering to deepening connectivity. China upholds the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to promote the joint implementation of “Belt and Road Initiative” with the partner countries to promote cooperation on green infrastructure, green energy, green transport, green finance, etc., to help deepen regional connectivity and promote common development and prosperity. This year, China will consider organizing the third "Belt and Road" Forum for International Cooperation to inject new momentum for sustainable development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Ambassador Han said, China has been taking firm action in addressing climate change. China has announced its vision of striving to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This fully demonstrates China’s ambition for climate action. China has already accomplished its 2020 goal for climate action ahead of schedule. China has steadily promoted energy restructuring, strictly controlled carbon dioxide emissions, and established the world's largest carbon market covering greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, China has extensively carried out South-South cooperation on climate change, carried out more than 40 climate change mitigation and adaptation programs with developing countries, and trained technicians in related fields for more than 120 developing countries.

Ambassador Han emphasized that China will coexist peacefully with all countries and develop together on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. China will follow a Chinese path to modernization, develop new system for higher-level open economy, and continue to share the opportunities of China's development with the world, especially the Asia-Pacific region. In the first quarter of this year, China's economy grew by 4.5%, demonstrating a strong momentum for long-term improvement. According to the IMF report, the Asia-Pacific region will contribute about 70% to global economic growth this year, and China's contribution will be as high as 30%. China will continue to work closely with all partners to support ESCAP to fully play its role in jointly promoting sustainable development and post-pandemic recovery in the Asia-Pacific region and in promoting the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.