Ｃｏｍｍｏｎ Ｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｉｅｓ ａｎｄ Ｊｏｉｎｔ Ａｃｔｉｏｎｓ—Ｐｒｏｍｏｔｉｎｇ Ｐｅａｃｅ ａｎｄ Ｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔ ｆｏｒ Ｈｕｍａｎｉｔｙ

Speech Delivered by Li Xiaolin，Vice President of CPAFFC， at Chinese NGO Forum for 58th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference (July 6， 2005)

In September of 2005， leaders of various countries in the world will come together at a summit in New York to review progress since the Millennium Declaration adopted by all U. N. member states in 2000. In the early days of the same month， more than a thousand NGOs from all over the world will participate in the 58th DPI/NGO annual conference for the same topic. Today， we Chinese NGOs gather together here in Beijing focusing our attention also on the same issue. I think this is of great importance. To achieve universal peace and common development is our common responsibilities and requires joint actions of all of us. We Chinese NGOs should never be exceptions.

With the advent of a new century， the international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. In our era of enormously convenient communication and transportation， rapid scientific and technological advances， increasing economic interdependence and globalization， distances between various parts of the world have shrunk; people and people， state and state are increasingly interdependent; interests， threats and opportunities are more interrelated than ever. As Secretary General Kofi Annan pointed out that “At no time in human history have the fate of every woman， man and child been so intertwined across the globe”. In such a world， no country， big or small， strong or weak， can protect itself on its own， neither can it realize prosperity in an isolated way. The global problems can only be solved and our common goals achieved by sustained global cooperation， by coordinated and concerted effort of all states， governments， NGOs， civil societies and private sectors.

As the most universal， representative， authoritative international organization， the United Nations is the best place to practice multilateralism and mobilize all people to take collective actions. It plays an indispensable role in international affairs. It should continue to take the lead in advancing world peace and development. We endorse and support the UN to carry out reforms conforming to the trends of our times. It is hoped that through reforms UN’s leading role in international affairs will be strengthened， its capacity to deal with new threats and challenges will be enhanced， its authority and efficiency will be raised and it will reflect the common demands and needs of all its members， especially the developing countries. A more transparent， efficient and effective UN with greater vitality and dynamics conforms to the common interests of humanity.

We agree with what Secretary General Kofi Annan put forward in his recent report on the Millennium Declaration that the world must advance the causes of security， development and human rights together， otherwise none will succeed. As the largest developing country in the world， China faces its own colossal tasks of development. Together with other developing and developed countries， we also face the common threats and challenges: poverty， diseases， environmental degradation， and inadequate rule of law and social security system， the threats of terrorism， weapons of mass destruction， and war， the irrational and unfair international economic and trade system， etc. Development is the bedrock for the progress of human civilization. Without the coordinated， balanced and universal development around the world， there will be no sustained peace and security. Security is the prerequisite of development and prosperity. Without a secure and stable international environment， no country can start to develop. Rights to subsistence， development and individual dignity are fundamental human rights. If these rights are not respected and guaranteed， we will not enjoy a harmonious society， nor security and development. Therefore， development， security and human rights are interdependent and closely related. To achieve the Millennium Development Goals is to push forward the cause of development， security and human rights for all people in the world. This is a very great and comprehensive cause. Not only the UN and national governments， but all NGOs and private sectors should improve their own abilities， and make joint efforts to push forward this great cause of humanity.

China is a large developing country with a population of 1.3 billion， the achievement of its own social and economic development will be a great contribution to world peace and development. In recent years， China has made great efforts and accomplished a lot in the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals， especially in the fields of poverty eradication， popularization of education in poor areas， protection of women’s rights and interests， environmental protection， the fight against HIV/AIDS， etc. But as a developing country with a huge population， a weak foundation， and unbalanced development of different regions and between the cities and the rural areas， China has a long way to go before it becomes developed.Chinese NGOs， civil societies and private sectors are needed and have the duty to share the burdens， and be the partners of the government， to help the government formulate policies and implement them， to fit in the gap where there is a lack or malfunction of government administration.

We are gratified to see that in the world， NGOs are playing a more important role in the international affairs than ever. The U.N. and the Chinese government pay more attention and attach more importance to the voices of the civil society. Chinese NGOs start working relatively late. But in recent years， we have actively participated in various world or regional NGO forums and conferences， in discussions of issues of common concern， in drafting programmes for action and declarations. Through expanding cooperation with organizations in China and other countries， we have carried out many projects for development of China as well as for the building of a harmonious society for mankind. We are willing to strengthen contact and cooperation with UN agencies， with governments， NGOs， civil society and private sectors of other parts of the world， and work together to realize Millennium Development Goals and promote the cause of peace and development for mankind. We hope that the U.N. could strengthen its ties with Chinese NGOs， and give us more guidance and support in information and resources. Here， I would like to take this opportunity to thank UN DPI NGO section’s support for this conference today. We are especially grateful and honored for having Mr. Ramu Damodaran and Sr. Joan Kirby with us， who have traveled a long way to attend our conference. We are grateful to them for coming and for their guidance and support.

There have been a lot of discussions at global and regional level on the issues of peace and development. Much consensus has been reached and many documents on their results have been drafted. We hold that at present， the most important task for us is not just to let all countries in the world clearly and fully understand the common problems we are facing， but also to realize that it is our common responsibility and needs our common action to solve these problems. Here， I call upon governments of all countries， civil societies and private sectors to take actions without delay. Only by taking practical and effective actions can we push forward the realization of our common goals. In conclusion， I would like to quote Chairman Mao’s famous saying: “People， and people alone， are the motive force in the making of world history.”

Thank you.