In a speech at the High-level Segment of the Substantive Session of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, Chinese Permanent Representative to the U.N. Wang Yingfan said that the promotion of human resources development first requires new development concepts.

Human resources development should be guided by the principle of being centered upon people and benefiting people and its goal must be the overall enhancement of the quality of people, he said.

Secondly, Wang said, the promotion of human resources development must contribute to improving people's health. A system of health coverage for all, which ensures the health of all citizens is the key to breaking the vicious circle of poverty leading to illness and illness, in turn, leading to further poverty, he said.

Thirdly, Wang said, the promoting of human resources development must facilitate the creation of an educational system for continuous learning and a learning-based society. Fundamentally speaking, education is the main means of human resources development, as well as the foundation for human resources capacity building, he said.

And fourthly, Wang said, the promotion of human resources development requires international exchange and cooperation and their further strengthening.

Wang urged developed countries to provide financial, material and technological assistance to developing countries so as to speed up their human resources development. Human resources development must be regarded as an important measure for assisting developing countries to achieve economic growth, narrow the gap between the north and the south and promote coordinated development, he said.

In particular, he said, developed countries should take actions to help developing countries to narrow the "digital divide," speedily build information and communication networks, conduct internet information technology training, share knowledge resources with them and improve the quality of their workforce.

Wang also said that the Chinese government advocates respect for knowledge, talent and human resources development as an important means for promoting sustained economic and social development. "We are ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other countries and learn from each other's experiences to promote healthy human resources development," he said.

(People's Daily July 3, 2002)