Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 15 June 2014

Your Excellency President Morales,
Distinguished Delegates,
Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by extending, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, warm congratulations on the convening of the Commemorative Summit on the 50th Anniversary of the Group of 77 (G77) and high appreciation to the Bolivian government for the thoughtful arrangements it has made for the summit. As an old Chinese saying goes, "at the age of 50, one knows the mandate of Heaven". The G77, after 50 years of development, is now at a prime time of building on past achievements and striving for even greater success. In this context, this summit offers us a timely opportunity to review history and forge ahead with a clear mandate.

The G77 was founded in 1964 when representatives from 77 developing countries issued a joint declaration at the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Over the past half-century since then, the G77 has grown into a banner for developing countries in the field of international economic development. Representing the collective voice of developing countries, it has served as a mainstay and played a unique and irreplaceable role in building a just and equitable new international political and economic order, safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and advancing international cooperation for development.

We have every reason to be proud of the tortuous yet glorious journey the G77 has traveled over the past fifty years, a period marked by both changes and enduring themes in the international landscape.

The world we live in has undergone changes. The Group of 77 was founded during the Cold War, with anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism and national liberation movements booming and an increasing number of developing countries gaining independence. The world today is also witnessing profound changes: the international architecture is experiencing new adjustments; peace and development have become the theme of the times; world multi-polarity and democracy in international relations are advancing amid setbacks. Countries have become increasingly inter-connected and have emerged as a community of common destiny in which they have intertwined interests and strive for common development.

The G77 itself is also undergoing changes. From the 77 founding members to the 133 member states today, the G77 has enjoyed constant growth in both size and strength. Today, the developing world accounts for 82% of the world's population and over half of the world's GDP. The collective growth of emerging economies significantly raised the standing of developing countries as a whole. It is estimated that in the next three to five years, developing countries will become the main driver of the global economy, contributing to about two-thirds of its total growth. The G77 has emerged as an important force shaping the future of the world.

On the other hand, the enduring theme of peace and development has not changed. The world is far from tranquil and development continues to be uneven. The North stays strong and rich while the South remains weak and under-developed. The goal of ending the division of the world into areas of affluence and intolerable poverty put forth in the joint declaration at the founding of the G77 is yet to be realized. The impact of the international financial crisis lingers on. The path of global economic recovery is tortuous and growth remains lackluster. Global challenges such as food security, energy security and sustainable development remain pronounced. Developing countries still face a harsh international trade and development environment, and are yet to have a bigger say in international affairs. Our voice is not listened to with due attention. The G77 still has upon its shoulders the historical mission of rallying and leading developing countries in achieving strength through unity and realizing common development.

Mr. President,

Today, as economic globalization gathers momentum, what should the G77 do to discharge its historical mission more vigorously? What is its way forward in the next 50 years? Our discussions at this summit will focus on those questions. Here, I wish to share with you the following thoughts:

First, we need to hold high the banner of peace, stability, development and prosperity. The G77 should continue to firmly safeguard world peace and stability, work to ensure that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter are observed by all parties, promote world multi-polarity and democracy in international relations and respect the development paths and models of all countries. It should advocate equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning and win-win cooperation, uphold international fairness and justice and safeguard world peace and stability. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence jointly advocated by China, India and Myanmar six decades ago remain highly relevant today as basic norms governing international relations.

Second, we need to unite as one. Strength comes from unity. Only when we act as one, can our voice be heard and respected and our common interests secured. It is natural for members of the G77, with different national conditions and development models, to have different opinions on some issues. Even family members disagree with each other from time to time, which is completely normal. Our common interests, however, far outweigh our differences. Seeking common ground while putting aside differences, pursuing strength through unity and building a community of common destiny is the only approach we should follow to realize development.

Third, we should speak with one voice. We must put an end to the days when we only play supporting roles on the world stage. We should become main characters, championing our own theme of development and increasing our say and decision-making power in world affairs. The G77 should form common positions on the formulation of the post-2015 development agenda and sustainable development goals as well as climate change negotiations. We need to make poverty elimination and development front and center of our efforts and adhere to the principle of ''common but differentiated responsibilities''. We should vigorously strengthen international cooperation on development, and urge developed countries to make good on their promises in terms of capital, technology and capacity building, and implement their commitments to the Official Development Assistance and the Green Climate Fund. We should support the international trading regime represented by WTO, implement the reform plan of the international financial institutions, advocate open regional cooperation and create a favorable international environment for development.

Fourth, we should pursue our shared goal of sustainable and common development. We should follow our own development paths in light of different national conditions, actively promote reform, adjust economic structures, and adopt green, low-carbon and sustainable development models. We need to continue to advance South-South cooperation, innovate cooperation patterns and strengthen connectivity, coordination and mutual learning in terms of policy, trade, investment, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. By doing so, we will forge a community of destiny, where we help each other for common development.

Mr. President,

The G77 and China has now become a loud and strong voice in international affairs. For many years, China and the members of the G77 have shared weal and woe. With our hearts and minds closely connected, we have worked shoulder by shoulder in firmly upholding the rights and interests of developing countries, thus winning respect from the international community.

Seeing China's rapid development by following a socialist path with Chinese characteristics, some people doubt if China remains a developing country. The answer to that question is simple. China has both fast growing cities and poor, backward central and western regions. China's GDP is second largest in the world, but its income in per capita terms trails behind over 80 countries and it ranks 101st in the UN Human Development Index. With over 100 million people living in poverty, serious problems of imbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable development and significant gaps between urban and rural areas and different regions, China still faces daunting development tasks. Therefore, China is still a developing country and its position as a representative of the developing world remains unchanged.

With similar historical experience and common development tasks, China and other developing countries are naturally close to each other. China is always a true friend and good partner of developing countries. We are sincere, our cooperation is for real results and our goals are clear. China's cooperation with developing countries, as aptly put by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Africa, features sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith.

From the Tanzara railway that China built against all odds in the 1970's to the AU headquarters today, from expressways in cities to bridges and wells in villages, from fully equipped hospitals to new and spacious schools, from Chinese medical personnel in 66 countries to a large number of young people from developing countries studying in China, from unilateral aid in the past to all-dimensional business ties today, China has followed its own approach towards friends, fulfilled its responsibilities, helped other developing countries to the best of its capacity and worked to promote South-South cooperation. China's development means opportunities for other countries, especially developing countries.

Mr. President,

Having stood together through thick and thin for half a century, China and the members of the G77 forged a profound friendship. We are always the closest friends and partners. As a saying in Latin America goes, seizing today is better than having two tomorrows. We will seize firmly the opportunities today, strengthen the cooperation model of the G77 and China, and jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries. Let us embrace the next 50 years together. Finally, I would like to wish the summit a complete success.

Thank you.