The Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development opened in Doha, capital of Qatar on Nov. 29, 2008. Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, as Chinese President Hu Jintao’s Special Representative, attended the conference and delivered a speech at the plenary session.

He Yafei extended congratulations on the convening of the conference on behalf of President Hu Jintao and the Chinese government. He Yafei said that the international financial crisis is spreading, the world economic situation is complex and grim, and the international community is facing challenges in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The international community needs to look at the issue of financing for development from an overall and long-term perspective, establish a global partnership for development, and take practical actions to help developing countries solve their problems.

He Yafei said that to address the issue of financing for development the international community should properly handle four types of relationships. First, the relationship between stabilizing financial markets and helping vulnerable countries and groups. The international community should pay particular attention to and strive to minimize the impact on developing countries and take measures to help countries in need of help. Second, the relationship between the development of each country and common development of the world. All parties concerned should do more things that are helpful to global economic stability and growth, oppose trade protectionism, and strive to complete the Doha Round negotiations at an early date. Developed countries should honor their aid commitments to developing countries and grant debt relief and transfer technologies to developing countries. Third, the relationship between traditional development issues and new challenges. In an effort to resolve long-standing development deficits, the international community should mobilize new and additional financial resources to effectively deal with energy security, food security, climate change, and other new challenges. Fourth, the relationship between dealing with crisis and preventing crisis. When stabilizing financial markets, the international community should grasp the direction for building a new international financial order, which is fair, just, inclusive, and orderly, uphold the principle of being comprehensive, balanced, and progressive and striving for substantial results, and conduct necessary reform on the current international financial system and governance structure.

He pointed out that the United Nations, as the most representative and authoritative international organizations, should continue to play a leading role in such areas as financing for development and urge the international community to increase development inputs, ensure development resources and enhance development agencies.

He Yafei stressed that China gives top priority to development issues and has realized the two goals of poverty reduction and universal primary education in the Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule. China is confident to achieve the remaining goals on schedule. This itself is a major contribution to the world's development issues. China is also actively involved in South-South cooperation and has made due contributions for the common development of all countries. At the G-20 financial summit, which was held not long ago, President Hu Jintao pointed out that the international community should pay attention to and strive to minimize the damage caused by the financial crisis on developing countries, especially the least developed countries, in the process of dealing with the crisis. At the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals in September this year, Premier Wen Jiabao announced six new measures adopted by China to help other developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The Chinese side will continue to participate actively in the process of financing for development and work with all parties to push the cause of global development forward.

During the conference, He Yafei met with Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Member of the Council of Ministers of Qatar in Doha. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, the international financial crisis, and other issues of mutual interest. He Yafei also met with heads of the delegations of South Africa, Mexico, and Sri Lanka and exchanged views with them on global development and other issues.