Voice of China

China's premier to address the UN at summit

Updated: 2010-09-15 13:45

Premier Wen Jiabao will discuss a number of important issues during two United Nations conferences to be held in New York from Sept 21-23, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Wen will address the UN meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the general debate of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said during a news briefing.

This is the third consecutive year that top Chinese officials have made headline appearances at major UN conferences.

A series of important bilateral talks will also be held - including meetings with US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ten years have passed since 189 UN member states signed the Millennium Declaration that established the Millennium Development Goals, which have strived to address problems ranging from poverty to gender discrimination across the developing world.

As the world's largest developing nation, China "still full-heartedly supports the implementation MDGs by introducing China's achievements and experience during the meetings and will pledge to making more contributions to development", said Liu.

Wen's speech will also include a retrospect on China's past efforts to support developing countries, including everything from agricultural aid to debt exemptions.

Other multilateral meetings will include Wen's participation in the Security Council summit at the invitation of Turkey, which presides over the Security Council for the month of September, and consultations on combating HIV/AIDS with UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.

Wen's upcoming trip will be a clear signal that China maintains its unremitting support to the UN, said Wu Miaofa, a former counselor of Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations.

"It is the 65th year since the UN's establishment - much has been achieved in the past six decades, especially in development and security areas," Wu said. His visit, moreover, is "a great opportunity, not only to voice China's ideas, but to push harder on the developed countries to share a bigger part on development issues."

China also regards the UN as an ideal platform for bilateral diplomacy, Wu says.

"The meeting with US President Obama will further mitigate tensions between Beijing and Washington," he said.

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

China's premier to address the UN at summit

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China's premier to address the UN at summit

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.