G77, China vow to implement MDGs
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-13 13:56

Ministers from the members of the Group of 77 and China (G77 plus China) vowed on Saturday to remain committed to the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs) and other internationally agreed initiatives aimed at reducing poverty.

"We call upon the international community and the United Nations system to fully and speedily achieve the Millennium Development Goals and other development goals set out in the major United Nations conferences and summits," said a declaration issued at the G77 plus China special ministerial meeting, held on the eve of the 11th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

"We are concerned about the adverse effects of domestic support and subsidies granted to the production and export of commodities by some developed countries that causes distortions in the international trade and undermines trade opportunities," it said.

The declaration reiterated the common aspiration of developing countries that developed nations should eliminate the continuing use of unilateral coercive economic and trade measures against developing countries, such as economic and trade sanctions that are in contradiction with the United Nations Charter and rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"The Group stresses the need for international rules to allow policy space and policy flexibility for developing countries, as they are directly related to the development strategies of national governments," it said.

In this regard, G77 attaches high priority to the reform of the United Nations and will actively participate in the negotiations for the strengthening of this largest inter-governmental body, it added.

The declaration also voiced support to the implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), and great concerns over the severe and negative impact of "foreign occupation" on efforts towards sustainable development and poverty eradication.

Seventy-seven Asian, African and Latin American countries set up G77 in Geneva in 1964, aimed at boosting unity and cooperation among developing nations and pushing for the establishment of a new international economic order. It now has a total of 131 members.

The G77 plus China special ministerial meeting, which opened on Friday and was scheduled to close Saturday evening, was held to celebrate the organization's 40th anniversary. A Chinese delegation led by Yi Xiaozhun, assistant minister of commerce, attended the two-day meeting.