UN official lauds nation's global role
Shao Zongwei
2004-04-26 06:39

SHANGHAI: A high-ranking United Nations official has praised China's role in helping the world's most vulnerable countries guard against the effects of globalization.

UN Under-Secretary-General Anwarul K. Chowdhury told China Daily that China's active advocacy of peaceful resolution of conflicts and its participation in UN organizations have contributed to the improvement of conditions in less developed nations.

"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China plays a major positive role... in helping such nations on their road to development by coming out of conflict," said Chowdhury. "China also plays a major role in the UN in general, particularly in the UN Economic and Social Council and different bodies and funding programmes."

Chowdhury, who is also the UN high representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, is in Shanghai to attend the 60th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Eighth Session of the ESCAP Special Body on Pacific Islands Developing Countries that was held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The UN has a list of countries which it deems as most vulnerable, including 50 less developed nations,44 small island developing countries and 31 landlocked developing countries.

China pledged in the year 2000 that it would cancel 10 billion (US$1.2 billion) debts owed to it by the nations in Africa. With a multi-lateral road transportation agreement within the six-nation Shanghai Co-operation Organization, it is expected to renew its pledge to help satisfy the transit needs of land-locked countries in Central Asia to have better market access.

The nation and the Pacific Islands Forum has been in a dialogue partnership since 1988.

"This dialogue partnership with the island countries is very helpful in sharing knowledge and understanding, and in exploring increased opportunities to benefit from China's willingness to help these countries," said Chowdhury.

He said China can continue to help by providing the small island developing nations with strong political support so they get good assistance from the international community and promote regional co-operation through the commissions and the international organizations such as the UN and other programmes. The nation can also provide bilateral support in technical assistance and training and foreign investment opportunities, he added.

Chinese officials have said on various occasions the nation and island countries in the Pacific are complementary in their economies. While China excels in aquatic products processing, light industry and garment-making, South Pacific countries have an edge in fisheries, forestry and tourism. China became a member of the South Pacific Tourism Organization on Tuesday.

Apart from its sustained rapid economic development, China also has attracted the world's attention with its efforts to reduce its population living in poverty. With current momentum, the nation stands a good chance of achieving the goal of cutting its impoverished population by half by the year 2015.

"China can share its experiences with regard to reaching the Millennium Development Goals (with other countries in the region)," said Chowdhury. "It should offer not only the sharing of experiences, but technical assistance to the countries in the region either bilaterally or through the UN, so that these countries can also make assiduous attempts to reach Millennium Development Goals."