An international conference on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to be held from March 25 to 27 in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan announced in Beijing Thursday.

The conference will be jointly held by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and offices of UN organizations in China.

Kong said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will attend the opening of the conference and deliver a speech.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will send a representative to the meeting, Kong said. Participants will include representatives from the Chinese and foreign governments, international organizations, academic organizations and business communities from home and overseas, Kong said.

Participants will share experience involving the millennium development goals and explore ways for cooperation, Kong said.

The MDGs grew out of a gathering of 189 world leaders at the United Nations in September 2000, when attendees proclaimed the Millennium Declaration.

This statement gave voice to the values shared by all member nations and resulted in a commitment by those nations to halve global poverty by 2015.

The eight MDGs are: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve material health, combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2004)