STATEMENT DELIVERED BY MRS. ARIEL BOWEN, FIRST SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA, ON BEHALF OF G-77 AND CHINA MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS OF THE UNDP/UNFPA EXECUTIVE BOARD, IN SUPPORT OF THE UNDP/UNFPA 2006-2010 COUNTRY PROGRAMME FOR THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (New York, 22 June 2005)

Mr. President,

As this is the first time I am taking the floor, let me congratulate you and the Bureau on the excellent manner in which you have been conducting the proceedings of the Board.

I take this opportunity to speak on behalf of the members and observers of the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board who are members of the Group of 77 and China. The Group fully supports the work of the UNDP/UNFPA in their various forms, including at the country level, assisting developing countries in meeting development challenges, including the gender and health related targets of the Millennium Development Goals. We are also most appreciative of our donor partners, whose contributions are central to helping us achieve our development goals.

We wish to lend our support to the 6th five year country programme of the UNFPA, which will cover the 2006-2010 period for the People’s Republic of China, as contained in the draft country programme document DP/FPA/DPC/CHN/6.

Mr. President,

As we all know, the PRC has the largest population in the world with 1.3 billion people. The programme document mentioned above, circulated in preparation for this meeting, provides a useful situation analysis on China, indicating that the population figure is expected to reach 1.5 billion, around 2040. The document also informs us that there has been economic progress in the country, leading to remarkable improvements in living standards, as noted in the 2005 common country assessment (CCA), but notwithstanding, regional and societal disparities have continued, including in levels of national economic development.

The country programme follows three strategic areas of priority: Reproductive Health, Population and Development and Gender, which are of critical importance to the PRC. With regard to reproductive health, the main focus is on providing client-centred quality services and information to couples, adolescent, migrant and other vulnerable groups to protect themselves from the disease. In the area of population and development, the programme is aimed at covering demographic research, ageing, gender, migration, quality of data as well as the very important dimension of South-South collaboration. The programme, jointly formulated by external experts, the UNFPA and the Government of China, also reflects population development needs and national priorities of China, giving valuable support to the country’s efforts at improving the quality of life of some of its most vulnerable citizens.

With these in mind, Mr. President, we fully support and endorse the 2006-2010 country programme and hope we can rely on you the Board members to once again approve the programme.

I thank you.