A Chinese delegate has called on the United Nations Commission on
Human Rights to put more importance on the right to development.
Speaking at the commission's 57th session in Geneva Tuesday,
Ambassador Wang Shijie said that, at the millennium summit, leaders
of all countries made the solemn commitment to eradicate poverty
and promote the realization of the right to development through
international cooperation.
"We hope this commitment will become a reality at an early date, "
he said.
Noting that the target is not easy to meet, Wang said that, in the
past decade, the number of Least Developed Countries has increased
from 36 to 48. The imbalance of development has become more serious
in the world, and the developing countries are confronted with
special difficulties in dealing with globalization.
He
urged the international community to pay due attention to this
issue and take practical actions earnestly in this regard.
"In view of the growing interdependence among countries, the
realization of the right to development not only has a bearing on
the enjoyment of human rights in the developing countries, but also
has far-reaching consequences for international peace and
prosperity," he said. "If nothing is done to narrow the yawning gap
between the north and the south, poverty will eventually undermine
the overall order of the human society."
He
also called on the international community to create a favorable
international environment for development through various measures
such as adjusting the system of international financial
institutions, opening up the markets of developed countries to
developing countries, and the expansion of trade with and the
transfer of new and high tech to the latter.
At
the same time, the Chinese delegate said, the developed countries
should pay close attention to the special difficulties of the
developing countries and actively engage in international
cooperation.
(Xinhua 03/28/2001)