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General Debate of the 64th Session (2009)

China
H.E. Mr. Hu Jintao, President

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23 September 2009

Statement
Statement Summary

HU JINTAU, President of China, said that, as the world moved further towards multi-polarity and economic globalization, multilateralism and democracy in international relations had won greater public support, while opening up cooperation for mutual benefit.  At the same time, the world remained under the impact of the financial crisis and the prospects for an economic recovery were still not clear.  Global issues such as climate change and food security had been thrown into sharp relief.  In the face of unprecedented opportunities and challenges, the members of the international community should commit themselves to four areas of work -- peace and security, development and common prosperity, cooperation and common progress, and tolerance and harmony -- to continue “our joint endeavour to build a harmonious world”, he said.

In terms of security, he emphasized the need to adhere to the “purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations”, and said that the Organization played an important role in the field of international security.  He added that “China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and a world without nuclear weapons”, and urged the international community to advance the nuclear disarmament process to eliminate the proliferation of nuclear weapons, while advancing the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

With regard to development and prosperity, he said the equal participation by developing countries was a key to shared prosperity, and a fairer and more just economic order.  He called on the United Nations to deepen its development contribution and to achieve more balance in the global economic system by creating an “international environment conducive to the development of developing countries”.  He suggested that developed countries open their markets to developing countries by reducing or exempting tariffs for those countries.  He also noted that for developing countries, self-reliance was essential and South-South cooperation should be upgraded.

As for cooperation and common progress, he said that no country was exempt from the global challenges of climate change, food and energy security, and public health.  On these issues, he said, international cooperation was a key -- especially under the auspices of the United Nations and in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and he offered China’s help to prevent and control the further spread of Influenza A (H1N1) in developing countries.

Finally, with reference to increased tolerance and harmony, he called for an acknowledgement of cultural differences, social systems and values combined with a “vigorous” promotion of human rights.  And he went on to encourage the countries of the international community to seek common ground while also respecting each other’s differences.

Concluding, he spoke of Chinese history and his country’s contribution to the world.  He said that China would continue to develop and open up, to the benefit of both China and the rest of the world.  Specifically, he outlined four promises with regard to Chinese support for developing countries that were particularly hurt by the financial crisis, including “relevant capital increase and financing plans”; assistance with the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals; increased assistance to Africa and the reduction or cancellation of debt for heavily indebted poor countries; and participation in and promotion of regional monetary and financial cooperation.

“Let’s join hands, share development opportunities, rise above challenges and make unremitting effort to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity,” he said.

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Source: GA/10860