Ban Ki-moon Believes China Can Achieve the MDGs

The annual UN General Assembly general debate kicks off next week, with the Millennium Development Goals Summit Meeting on the agenda. It's part of a series of high-level meetings scheduled to be held in the headquarters of the 192-nation world body in New York. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has commended China's efforts in trying to realize the MDGs set by the United Nations with a deadline of 2015. CRI's correspondent Shen Ting has more.

The MDGs were formed in 2000 at the Millennium Summit in New York, with world leaders pledging to do their utmost to attain the goals by 2015. The targets include slashing poverty, fighting diseases, halting environmental degradation and boosting health.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the MDGs are formidable and ambitious but still achievable.

"We have only five years left. There is some skepticism whether this could be met. However, I'm confident that with strong leadership, good policies and right mix of adequate funding, we will be able to achieve these goals."

Ban said he is looking forward to a good meeting with Premiere Wen Jiabao, who will come to New York to attend the summit meeting next week. As China has made great achievements in this regard, he said he counts on China's full participation and support.

"China has now emerged as No.2 world economy. You have resources. You have technology. You have capacity. You have made great successes, stride, in achieving Millennium Development Goals."

The secretary general said he's aware that China still has many serious problems because of its huge population, and many areas in China are still underdeveloped. However, he believes the Chinese government can fulfill the MDGs with its strong leadership and good governance.

"As a government, you have a strong leadership and good governance. You have all this resources. When you mix all these elements and I'm sure you will be successful."

For CRI, this is Shen Ting, from the UN Headquarters in New York.