国内英语新闻:China focuses on six measures to help LDC economies: official

VIENNA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China is to further help the least developed countries (LDCs) in their development effort through zero-tariff treatment and other measures, Yu Jianhua, China's Assistant Commerce Minister said here Friday.

Addressing a LDCs Ministerial Meeting in Vienna, Yu said China will focus on six concrete measures to advance the implementation of the Programme of Action (IPoA), adopted by the Fourth United Nations Conference on LDCs in Istanbul in May.

First, as announced by Chinese president Hu Jintao during the G20 summit in Cannes, China would, in the context of South-South cooperation, give zero-tariff treatment to 97 percent of the tariff items of exports to China from the LDCs that have diplomatic relations with China.

Second, tilt foreign aid further to the LDCs.

Third, carry out cooperation in livelihood projects in the LDCs, including hospital, school, domestic water use and clear energy.

Fourth, strengthen agricultural cooperation with the LDCs, including the increase of food aid, dispatching agricultural and technical experts.

Fifth, strengthen personnel education in the LDCs to build capacity for self-development.

Sixth, continuously promote the establishment of economic and trade cooperation zone in the LDCs by Chinese companies.

Yu said that debt crisis in some countries, turmoil in financial markets, inflation pressure in emerging countries; extreme weather and recurrent natural disasters have brought enormous harm to the economies of the LDCs.

In this situation, the global community should stand united to give more supports to the LDCs, he stressed.

For a long time, China has actively supported the LDCs, under the framework of the South-South Cooperation, through economic and technical aids, debt reduction and personnel training and increase of imports from these countries, he said.

Meanwhile, Yu praised the unique role of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in implementing the IPoA, helping structural transformation in the LDCs and promoting the sustainable development.

He also said that the Chinese government would continue to support the UNIDO and help the LDCs develop their economies in an all-round way.