China backs UN's central role in coordinating reconstruction in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday voiced its support for the United Nations to play a central coordinating role in the reconstruction of Haiti, which was devastated by a massive earthquake on Jan. 12.

Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, told an international donors conference for Haiti that " the Chinese government supports the United Nations in playing a central coordination role in post-disaster reconstruction in Haiti. "

"We are of the view that the United Nations should continue to adhere to the principles of neutrality and gratuitousness in providing development assistance, and give play to its unique advantages in knowledge, technology, institutions and enforcement capacity," he said.

"China maintains that all multilateral mechanisms in support of Haiti's post-disaster reconstruction must be transparent, inclusive, and ensure the early transition from reconstruction to economic development led by the Haitian government and people," he added.

"The earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 was the biggest natural disaster ever experienced by the Haitian people over the past two centuries," Li said. "It has also become a humanitarian and development crisis over which the international community shares its common concern."

Haiti is now faced with a multitude of challenges in economic and social development as well as post-disaster reconstruction, and is therefore in urgent need of assistance from the international community, he said. "It is heartening however that, thanks to the effective coordination of the United Nations, the parties concerned have come together to lend a helping hand to the Haitian people and government," he stressed.China, U.S.

"The UN organs and agencies have provided timely and effective humanitarian assistance to the quake areas, and played an important leadership role, which has won wide acclaim from the international community," Li added.

High-level representatives from more than 130 members of the United Nations and its agencies and programs met at the UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday for a conference to aid Haiti in recovering and rebuilding after January's devastating earthquake.

With the theme of "Towards a New Future in Haiti," the one-day gathering was held at a time when the Haitian people are struggling to rebuild their lives in the wake of the strong earthquake, which left more than 220,000 people killed and 1.5 million others homeless.