A Chinese delegate has called on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to put more importance on the right to development.

Speaking at the commission's 57th session in Geneva Tuesday, Ambassador Wang Shijie said that, at the millennium summit, leaders of all countries made the solemn commitment to eradicate poverty and promote the realization of the right to development through international cooperation.

"We hope this commitment will become a reality at an early date, " he said.

Noting that the target is not easy to meet, Wang said that, in the past decade, the number of Least Developed Countries has increased from 36 to 48. The imbalance of development has become more serious in the world, and the developing countries are confronted with special difficulties in dealing with globalization.

He urged the international community to pay due attention to this issue and take practical actions earnestly in this regard.

"In view of the growing interdependence among countries, the realization of the right to development not only has a bearing on the enjoyment of human rights in the developing countries, but also has far-reaching consequences for international peace and prosperity," he said. "If nothing is done to narrow the yawning gap between the north and the south, poverty will eventually undermine the overall order of the human society."

He also called on the international community to create a favorable international environment for development through various measures such as adjusting the system of international financial institutions, opening up the markets of developed countries to developing countries, and the expansion of trade with and the transfer of new and high tech to the latter.

At the same time, the Chinese delegate said, the developed countries should pay close attention to the special difficulties of the developing countries and actively engage in international cooperation.

(Xinhua 03/28/2001)