Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya called on the international community to fulfill aid pledges and expand South-South cooperation yesterday 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 themed "New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD): Progress in Implementation and International Support," Wang said Africa is the world's, and global development cannot be achieved without Africa's prosperity.

"However, implementing the NEPAD remains a complex and painstaking process," he said.

Wang said that in spite of African countries' own efforts and international support, the international community still needs to make far greater efforts for the African continent where help is needed in all undertakings.

"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 a substantial increase in aid, to assist and support them," he said.

As regards future international support to Africa in implementing the NEPAD, Wang said aid pledges should be fulfilled at an early date.

"In order to reach the Millennium Development Goals, African countries and people are racing against time," he said. "We hope that 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 for self-development."

Meanwhile, Wang said vigorous efforts should be made to improve monitoring and 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 the autonomy of African countries, saying the international community, in offering aid to Africa, should trust the wisdom of its governments and people, respect their choices of development road, and ensure that recipient countries have 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 said.

"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," he said.

"The Chinese government is ready to implement the relevant programs through the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and other channels to support Africa in enhancing development and implementing the NEPAD.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2005)