This week, heads of state and government from 140 countries around the world are gathered in New York to assess progress toward their commitment, ten years ago, to meet the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Progress from country to country remains mixed. Some are doing well while others are not. In a few countries, poverty has actually increased significantly. Even within the good MDG performing countries, some regions and population groups continue to lag significantly behind others. The global financial crisis and economic recession that began three years ago have not made things easier, particularly for urban migrants and other vulnerable groups; nor has the inability of most donor countries to meet their commitment of 0.7 percent of GDP for development assistance.

China is a very good MDG performer. The country has already met several MDG targets ahead of schedule, including reducing poverty and hunger, enrolling children in schools, and reducing child and under-five mortality. China's success in lifting millions of people out of poverty is unprecedented. And the country is on track for other targets, although some will be more difficult to achieve than others.

A lot of work still remains for China to meet all MDG goals. Three of the most critical areas relate to environmental sustainability, gender equality and HIV/AIDS. For example, only 21 percent of representatives of the National People's Congress are women, while the goal is 30 percent; and land degradation continues to threaten the realization of the biodiversity target. Progress needs to accelerate in these and other areas for China to meet the targets on time. Both the Chinese government and its partners, like the United Nations system in China, have accelerated implementation of programmes in these areas. China’s recently established energy efficiency targets and green cities initiatives are cases in point.

Another area of concern for China is rising inequalities and the rural-urban divide. Partly due to the remarkable growth over the last several decades, the gap between rich and poor has widened significantly. This is reflected both in regional discrepancies, as well as in gaps between people in the same geographic areas. While inequalities within countries tend to rise during rapid growth, it is not inevitable. Policy measures can be taken to contain these gaps by ensuring the pattern of growth is more inclusive, that growth is job-intensive and pro-poor.

China has not only done a remarkable job on the MDGs within its own borders, it has also provided assistance to other developing countries for their MDG programmes. Since 2000, some 1000 projects have been carried out in over 120 countries, many of which are directly related to the MDGs, such as assistance to agriculture, fisheries, education and public health. This is an important contribution to the global MDG effort,and as China expands this work through multilateral and international partners it will further benefit the MDGs particularly in Least Developed Countries.

The MDG global progress report today is mixed. Significant gains have been made in halving poverty; school enrolment has increased dramatically: access to clean water has expanded. But progress on other fronts, such as child and maternal mortality reduction, access to sanitation, and environmental preservation, has faltered. There are still huge numbers of children going to bed hungry each night and mothers dying needlessly in childbirth, and the environmental targets are far from being met.

With only five years remaining for the MDG target date of 2015, countries around the world must step up their commitment. The assessments show that we know what is needed to reach the goals; we know what policies and programmes work best in what circumstances. The fact that some of the poorest countries are on track is tribute to this. What is required is political will to accelerate progress. The poor, the hungry, and the destitute must become our priority.

Yesterday, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon concluded his address to world leaders in the General Assembly Hall by saying:"None of us can be truly fulfilled while so many lack the basics for a life in dignity. None of us should be able to rest easy knowing the fear and despair that pervade the human family. Let us make this investment in a better future for all. There is no global project more worthwhile"

The United Nations system in China has co-produced China's MDG Progress Report 2010 with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to take stock of achievements to date and highlight areas where more work is needed. The development programmes of the UN System in China span all eight goals, focusing on those areas where the most effort is required to reach the goals during the next five years. The United Nations system in China is confident that with the right attention and sustained commitment, China will be able to reach all MDG goals by 2015.