Fourth, create favorable conditions. All countries should recognize the cross-sectoral nature of the food issue, and adopt a multi-pronged approach to address the issue by taking measures in finance, trade, assistance, the environment, intellectual property rights, technology transfer and other areas, thus creating a favorable environment for safeguarding food security. It is necessary to take into full account the issue of food security in tackling the challenges in energy, climate change and other fields. It is ill-advised to do one thing at the expense of the other.

China attaches great importance to agriculture and especially the food issue. It pursues a food security policy of relying on domestic supply, ensuring basic self-sufficiency and striking a balance through appropriate import and export. China feeds about 20 percent of the world's population with around 9 percent of the world's arable land, which is a major contribution to global food security. For nearly 10 years, China has met over 95 percent of its food demand on its own and exported a net amount of 8 million tons of staple grains annually such as wheat, rice and corn. China's current average agricultural tariff is only a quarter of the world's average.

China takes an active part in international cooperation in the field of food and agriculture and provides foreign assistance according to its ability. Since 2003, China has provided nearly 300,000 tons of food assistance, built 14 integrated agricultural projects and established more than 20 demonstration centers of agricultural technologies overseas. We have trained over 4,000 agriculture-related managerial and technical staff for other developing countries. We are ready to share more experience of agricultural development with other developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation and provide various kinds of assistance to the extent possible.

Dear colleagues,

This year is the year for mid-term review of the MDGs. Progress has been made globally towards attaining the MDGs. However, the degree of progress varies in different fields and different regions. African countries, in particular, still face severe challenges in many fields. The present situation in the world economy has made the attainment of the MDGs even more complex. The international community should take the mid-term review as a good opportunity to further demonstrate political will and mobilize resources of all kinds, make the half-way point a turning point and promote comprehensive and balanced progress in the global efforts to achieve the MDGs. It is important to do the following:

First, establish a true partnership for development. The developing countries bear primary responsibilities for their own development, but the developed countries should also provide necessary assistance. The international community should create an enabling external environment for the developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve development.

Second, 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.

Third, 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 monopoly of technologies. Meanwhile, the developing countries should intensify research and development of technologies to enhance their own economic competitiveness.

Fourth, 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.

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, better livelihood and sound ecological and environmental conditions. This is consistent with the MDGs. China has met the MDG poverty target ahead of schedule. 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.

Dear colleagues,

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up program. Over the past three decades, China's economy has become an important part of the world economy, making positive contribution to world economic growth. We have learned from practice that a country's development efforts must comply with the development trend of the world and the interests of its people. We must bear in mind our national conditions and focus on economic development with firm commitment to reform and opening-up. We must dedicate ourselves to construction and development and work hard to achieve progress in economic, political, cultural and social fields. We must properly handle the relationship among reform, development and stability and make sure that our development is for the people and by the people and the fruits of development are shared by the people. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, uphold the opening-up strategy of mutual benefit and win-win outcome and continue to work with the rest of the world to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Before I conclude, I wish to welcome athletes from all countries to participate in the Beijing Olympic Games and friends across the world to come to Beijing to watch the Games.

Thank you.

(Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn)