Madam Chairperson,

The right to development (RTD) is an inalienable human right. The realization of the RTD is the shared aspiration of all developing countries. Since the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development in 1986, the developing countries have made unremitting efforts towards this end. However, there still remain lots of difficulties in realizing the RTD. In the process of economic globalization, many developing countries and African countries in particular have not only failed to achieve the development goal, but also risked being further marginalized.

The realization of the RTD depends on the joint efforts of the international community and the states. Undoubtedly, the states have the primary responsibility in realizing the RTD. This also constitutes one of the experiences most strongly felt by China over the past two decades since the adoption of reform and open-up policy. However, this does not necessarily mean that the international community should focus on the policies and measures that the states should adopt. Firstly, countries vary from one to another. The successful experiences of one country cannot be entirely applied to another, though they may offer some perspectives and enlightenment. It is precisely out of this consideration that both the Declaration on the Right to Development and the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action have affirmed that people of all countries have the right to freely decide their political status and economic, social and cultural development. Secondly, both the international community and all governments have the responsibility to create appropriate conditions for the realization of the RTD. They should both undertake their respective responsibilities rather than shift their burdens onto the other. While discussing the issue of the RTD at the international level, we should focus on the responsibility of the international community, and vice versa.

In realizing the RTD, the international community should undertake the following major responsibilities: Firstly, create an international environment of peace and security. Secondly, respect the right of all peoples to freely choose their social system and path of development. Thirdly, guarantee the right of equal participation of the developing countries in formulating the international rules. The international community should also change the irrational international economic and trade order. Fourthly, provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries and reduce and exempt the debt of the least developed ones. Of all these, the developed countries should demonstrate political commitments and more importantly take concrete actions.

The Working Group on the RTD (WG) of the Commission on Human Rights has so far held four sessions. It has conducted in-depth discussions on such issues as the obligations of states and the international community, obstacles to the realization of the RTD, negative impact of the existing international economic, trade and financial system and a permanent follow-up mechanism for the realization of the RTD. Under the chairmanship of H.E. Ambassador Dembri of Algeria, the third session of the WG adopted conclusions by consensus. This has laid a good foundation for the international community to further discuss the concrete measures in realizing the RTD. Regrettably, in spite of the unremitting efforts made by H.E. Ambassador Bowa of Zambia and Chairman of the WG and the Non Aligned Movement countries, the fourth session of the WG failed to achieve any result due to the lack of political will on the part of some countries. It is our hope that these countries will adopt a constructive approach on the RTD, support the extension of the mandate of the WG of the Commission on Human Rights and the convocation of a high-level workshop on the RTD. The RTD can only be realized through our joint efforts.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.