The international community should take the mid-term review of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a good opportunity to further demonstrate political will and mobilize all resources, make the half-way pointa turning point and promote comprehensive and balanced progress inglobal efforts to achieve the MDGs, said Chinese President Hu Jintao here Wednesday.
This year is the year for a mid-term review of the MDGs, and progress has been made globally toward attaining them, Hu said while addressing an outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) in the northern Japanese resort.
The degree of progress, however, varies in different fields and different regions, said the Chinese president, noting African countries, in particular, still face severe challenges in many fields.
He said the present situation in the world economy has made the attainment of the MDGs even more complex, and it is important to do the following to achieve the MDGs.
--Establish a true partnership for development. The developing countries bear the primary responsibilities for their own development, but the developed countries should also provide necessary assistance. The international community should create anenabling external environment for developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve development.
--Develop a fair framework of progress review. It is necessary to take a comprehensive look at the progress made as well as challenges faced by various countries in achieving the MDGs and make a serious review of the delivery of the committed international development assistance.
--Provide strong financial and technical support. The developed countries should honor their commitments in official development assistance, rise above short-term business interests and reduce the monopoly of technology. Meanwhile, the developing countries should intensify research and development of technology in order to enhance their own economic competitiveness.
--Increase international assistance to Africa. In view of Africa's special needs, the international community should provide Africa with more financial and technological support, and at the same time respect the rights of African countries to make their own decisions, with assistance focused on enhancing their self-development capabilities.
Hu also said China has, in light of its own national conditions, set the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, adhered to a Scientific Outlook on Development which puts people first and aims to achieve comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development, and firmly embarked on a path of sustainable development that features expanded production, a better livelihood and sound ecological and environmental conditions, which is consistent with the MDGs.
China has met the MDG poverty target ahead of schedule, he said, noting that, within the framework of South-South cooperation, China has provided free assistance, interest-free loans and concessional loans to nearly 160 developing countries to help them achieve the MDGs.
The outreach session of the G8 summit was convened at the Windsor Hotel and attended by leaders of the G8, which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States, and leaders from five major developing nations -- China, Brazil, India, South Africa and Mexico.