China called on the international community on Thursday to take concerted efforts to quicken the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"As the year 2015 is approaching, the international community needs to take integrated and effective measures with a high sense of mission and urgency to quicken the implementation of the MDGs," said Liu Zhenmin, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, at a special General Assembly debate on development.

In implementing the MDGs, poverty reduction should remain on top of the agenda and be used to promote development in other areas, he said.

He underlined the importance of strengthening capacity building of developing countries, saying that external support is "indispensable" in this regard.

"The international community is duty bound to create an enabling external environment and level the playing field for developing countries to engage in global trade and gain their due benefits in the process of globalization," he said.

Liu urged developed countries to "show sincerity" in fulfilling their commitment of using 0.7 percent of GNI for Official Development Assistance (ODA).

"The top priority now is to reverse the downward trend of ODA as soon as possible," he said.

He also spotlighted the United Nations' role in help developing countries to achieve the goals.

"The UN agencies should bear in mind the priority areas of individual developing countries and help them solve the most pressing problems through financial and technical support and capacity building," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2008)