Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya on Thursday called on the international community to fulfill aid pledges and expand South-South cooperation so as to support the development of African countries.
  
In a speech delivered at the plenary meeting of the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly on issue of New Partnership for Africa's Development: Progress in implementation and international support, Wang said Africa is the world's Africa, and global development cannot be achieved without Africa's prosperity.
  
"However, implementing the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) remains a complex and painstaking process," he noted.
  
Wang pointed out that in spite of the African countries' own efforts and international support, the international community still needs to make far greater efforts for African continent where help is needed in all undertakings.
  
"The African countries need to further pursue their national development strategies for more headway, and the international community should use all kinds of effective measures, including substantial increase of aid, to assist and support African countries," he said.
  
As regards future international support to Africa in implementing the NEPAD, Wang stressed that aid pledges should be fulfilled at an early date.
  
"In order to reach the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), the African countries and people are racing with the time," he said. "We hope that the developed countries will acquire the same sense of urgency and fulfill various pledges at an early date so as to help African countries in solving urgent problems and building capacities of self-development."
  
Meanwhile, Wang said vigorous efforts should be made to improve monitoring and to help bring about more actual results in international support.
  
"It is necessary to have corresponding mechanisms to monitor implementation so as to produce more accurate and detailed reports and relevant recommendations on progress of international support," he added.
  
Wang also called for respect for country ownership of African countries, saying the international community, in offering aid to Africa, should trust the wisdom of African governments and people, respect their choice of development road, and ensure that the recipient countries have the ownership, leadership and full policy space.
  
Last but not least, South-South cooperation among developing countries should be expanded further to enhance Africa's development, Wang noted.
  
"It is an important component of China's foreign policy to consolidate and develop friendly relations and cooperation with African countries, support and assist African countries and people in economic development and social progress," the Chinese ambassador said.
  
"The Chinese government is ready to implement the relevant programs through China-African Cooperation Forum and other cooperation channels to support Africa in enhancing development and implementing the NEPAD.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2005)