Mr. Chair,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It's my pleasure to attend the High-Level Euro-Asia Regional Review Meeting of the Vienna Programme of Action(VPoA) for the LLDCs. In the past 9 years since the VPoA was adopted, positive progress has been made, but complex challenges still remain. As a transit developing country, China has been actively implementing the VPoA, carrying out win-win cooperation with Euro-Asian LLDCs through the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) and Global Development Initiative(GDI), which have made significant contribution to regional connectivity and sustainable development .
China and partners have built the Belt and Road into a road of development, prosperity and happiness, vigorously promoting infrastructure construction in LLDCs. The China-Europe Railway Express has run more than 73,000 trips, covering most Euro-Asian LLDCs, providing them with new routes to the outside world. The China-Laos Railway has been operating for 20 months, with over 19 million passengers and nearly 20-billion-yuan of international freight, helping to turn the Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked country. China-Mongolia, China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan, China- Tajikistan-Uzbekistan and China-Nepal have been actively promoting hard connectivity of roads, railways and pipeline networks, as well as soft connectivity of rules and standards for trade and investment, customs clearance and ICTs, helping Euro-Asian LLDCs better integrate into the open world economy.
China promotes global development partnership through the implementation of GDI. More than 100 countries and international organizations have participated in the GDI and nearly 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. China increases support to global development, and has set up the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund based on existing mechanism and increased its value to $4 billion. China has established the GDI project pool with nearly 200 practical projects. China supports the development and capacity building of Mongolia, Laos, Nepal and other countries through China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund，promoting economic recovery and people's livelihood of Euro-Asian LLDCs. China actively innovates development financing mechanism, and promotes higher input from various development partners so as to gather the most extensive resources for global common development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At present, the world economic recovery remains sluggish, and multiple challenges are intertwined. Countries should work together to promote the implementation of the VPoA, and help LLDCs meet challenges and accelerate sustainable development.
We should uphold true multilateralism. The UN-centered international system should be safeguarded, and the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits should be adhered to. We should stand firmly against bulling practices and Cold War mentality, abandon protectionism and unilateralism which disrupts global supply chains, and reject unilateral coercive practices which undermine the WTO rules and market laws. With these, we can enable a healthy environment for the implement of VPoA and for the development of LLDCs.
We need to prioritize development. The international community should facilitate the mobilization of development resources. Developed countries should earnestly fulfill their commitments on ODA and international development cooperation. Multilateral financial institutions, private sectors and social organizations should take active actions to support LLDCs to access to development finance. China stands ready to work with all parties to accelerate the implementation of GDI and build an equal and balanced global development partnership.
We should strengthen coordination of development strategies. The comparative advantages of LLDCs in terms of resources, markets, labor, etc. should be given full play, to stimulate their growth potentials, foster new growth drivers and further create space for development. The BRI has much synergy with the development strategies of Euro-Asian LLDCs, and all partners are welcome to continue their active cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
No matter how the international landscape changes, China is always a staunch member of developing countries, a true, long-lasting and reliable partner of the Global South. China will continue to be a cooperator, facilitator and contributor to achieve sustainable development for LLDCs. China will work with all parties to enhance unity, deepen win-win cooperation, and jointly promote the sustainable development and prosperity of Euro-Asian LLDCs.
Thank you！