A/74/PV.18 General Assembly

It is an honour to convene today’s plenary meeting on three very important agenda items, namely, “New Partnership for Africa’s Development”, “Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace in Africa”, and “2001-2010 Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa”. African countries have taken action towards sustainable development by committing to two important agendas: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which sets out a blueprint for the Africa we want. African countries have taken action within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development on key issues including poverty eradication, promoting sustainable growth and development, fostering the integration of the continent into the global economy and accelerating the empowerment of women. The continent’s partnership with the new African Union Development Agency has led to great progress in many areas. With regard to agriculture and food security, more than 40 African States have engaged in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, which provides a policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. Furthermore, the Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training for Women project is working to increase women’s access to formal and non-formal training in the agrifood sector. I make reference to these initiatives because they align with the priorities for the seventy-fourth session, namely, poverty eradication and zero hunger, climate action, quality education and inclusion. In order to end malaria and ensure progress on the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, financing for development must be the foundation of all of our efforts. It is estimated that the continent of Africa will need to raise its gross domestic product by 11 per cent every year for the next decade in order to close the financing gap. Today, Africa’s average tax revenue-to- gross-domestic-product ratio is below 16 per cent. Efficient and effective domestic-resource mobilization can address a substantial portion of this shortfall. African nations have made great strides towards bridging that gap by creating the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is the largest free trade area created since the formation of the World Trade Organization. The Free Trade Area will cover a market of 1.2 billion people and an aggregate gross domestic product of $2.5 trillion. If we have long-term and reliable private international capital flows, particularly by way of foreign direct investment, and a stable international financial system, we can envisage a future of peace and prosperity for all of Africa. We must take collective action as States Members of the United Nations in transforming billions into trillions when it comes to bridging the financing for development gap. International support in the form of technology transfer, capacity-building, commitments in terms of official development assistance and aid is required to ensure that we leave no one behind. Bolstering our efforts with policies of good governance and transparency will help us combat illicit financial flows and foster our peoples’ confidence in global and national governance systems. In this regard, the African Peer Review Mechanism provides an innovative approach to improving governance at all levels. Cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations is crucial to the attainment of peace and security in Africa. I welcome the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force’s recent joint communiqué on cooperation for African peace support operations and support for the African Union’s initiative on Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020. We must continue to support efforts to consolidate peace and security gains, particularly in the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions, and we must enhance subregional capacities to address cross-border issues and other cross-cutting issues that affect peace and security. Let us not forget that the fundamental goal of our Organization is peace and security for all. The peacekeepers who don their blue berets on the continent of Africa are upholding the ideals of the United Nations. We must therefore provide sustainable and predictable financing for peace operations. However, we can only effectively promote peace and security for the people we serve if we combine such efforts with conflict prevention. Inclusion is a cross-cutting priority for my presidency of the General Assembly. We will not have a United Nations that excludes, nor can we afford to have an Africa that excludes. We must engage civil society throughout all of our efforts. Women make up half of the world’s workforce, and we will not fulfil the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 without addressing and removing the obstacles to women’s increased economic participation, entrepreneurship and empowerment. Investing in women’s empowerment is a direct investment in the development of societies as a whole. Few things make better economic sense than gender equality and women’s empowerment. We must also recognize the essential role women play as mediators, peacebuilders and peacekeepers. The African Union’s FemWise-Africa initiative highlights the importance of women’s participation at all levels of decision-making in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts. We must also enhance support for the African Union Youth for Peace Africa Programme to engage youth in conflict prevention. The creation of decent jobs for young people is also a key tool for conflict prevention. Around the world, we have heard young people call attention to the climate emergency. I call on everyone to take urgent measures, together with the African Union and the regional economic communities, in order to improve climate-change adaptation and disaster-risk reduction. I call on everyone to listen to and learn from our brothers and sisters who will take the floor today. Remember that we are nations united. Our prosperity and peace are interconnected. The actions we take to ensure sustainable development and security on the continent of Africa benefit everyone, everywhere. I am confident that by striving together, we will succeed in delivering for all. I now give the floor to the observer of the Observer State of Palestine.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, I want to express our appreciation for the valuable analysis, information and policy recommendations contained in the Secretary- General’s reports on the items that are being discussed today (A/74/193 and A/74/301). Despite progress in recent years, African countries continue to face new and emerging challenges that ultimately impede advancements made in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These challenges vary in terms of the category they belong to, ranging from poverty to high youth unemployment to more frequent and intense climate extremes. A lack of adequate resources continues to be the main constraint facing African countries in prospective development across the continent. Despite these challenges, African countries have strengthened their commitments and actions within the socioeconomic development framework. It is therefore very important to highlight the roles and initiatives of African countries in transforming the development agenda through the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. The Group of 77 believes that Africa requires more support in its development path, including through its development framework, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as it is the strategic agenda for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa in the coming decades. The Group of 77 also emphasizes the critical role of official development assistance and foreign direct investment, which remain major sources of financing for development in Africa. The Group would therefore like to reiterate that the fulfilment of all official development assistance (ODA) commitments remains crucial, including the commitment of many developed countries to achieving the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA or gross national income (GNI) to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/ GNI to least developed countries. We urge those that have not fulfilled their commitments to step up efforts towards the ODA targets. The Group is also encouraged by the importance that States attach to supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063. We are certain that the support given will translate into firm commitments towards Africa’s development. We want to recall that African countries have taken numerous and significant steps to address peace and security challenges at the national and regional levels. Despite progress in the area of security, the international community and partners must continue to support activities and initiatives to strengthen African efforts in addressing the continent’s peace and security. To prevent and resolve conflict as early as possible, the Group maintains the need for the United Nations system to support African regional and subregional organizations in bolstering the efforts of African countries to achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa in the coming years. The Group also believes that the progress made by African countries in the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires collective support in the areas of development and security, which face numerous challenges that have the potential to impede and reverse the continent’s advancements. In the past decade, the international community has witnessed remarkable progress on malaria control and prevention. Many African countries have successfully reduced the number of incidences of malaria, resulting in meaningful actions to save lives and strengthen collective efforts. In this regard, the Group welcomes the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 as a framework for continued global efforts against the disease. Despite the success in reducing malaria incidence rates, much work remains to be done, as many African countries continue to experience challenges in rolling back malaria and therefore fall short of their national and international targets. The 2030 Agenda highlights the international community’s commitment to eliminating malaria, which constitutes a major challenge to sustainable development. In this regard, the Group reiterates the need for the United Nations system to assist in upgrading health systems and ensuring equitable access to health services, as the health and well-being of populations lie at the heart of inclusive and sustainable development.

We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. It has been four years since we all embarked on the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Our African partners have also commenced the first phase of implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which complements the 2030 Agenda and builds on the core priorities of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). International cooperation remains a critical element of Africa’s efforts to achieve greater peace and prosperity envisaged in these two agendas, and NEPAD is an important part of these collaborative efforts. India’s partnership with Africa is based on a model of cooperation that is responsive to the needs of African countries. It is demand-driven and free of conditionalities. It is based on our history of friendship, historical ties and a sense of deep solidarity. African priorities are our priorities. African countries continue to make progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda towards a prosperous, peaceful and people-centred Africa. Compared to even a decade ago, the continent is more peaceful, its governance institutions are stronger, its overall economic output has grown, poverty rates have fallen, infrastructure and connectivity are improving and economies are more diversified. Life expectancy has increased and rates of infant and maternal mortality have fallen. Africa is also a young continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area, which came into force earlier this year, has made Africa the world’s largest free trade area, with 1.2 billion consumers and a combined gross domestic product of $3.4 trillion. India views this development as yet another opportunity to boost trade and economic ties with Africa. The bonds between Africa and the Indian subcontinent have been forged over several centuries. Long-standing trade and diaspora linkages across the Indian Ocean, a shared colonial past and our common development challenges have been the foundation of India-Africa relations. India has worked together with African partners to eliminate the evils of colonialism and apartheid. We have worked together for a fairer global governance system, including a more equitable global economic order. Our development partnership currently includes the implementation of 181 lines of credit, worth over $11 billion, in more than 40 African countries. Our projects have made a difference to the quality of life of African people all over the African continent. At the most recent India-Africa Forum Summit, we committed a concessional line of credit of $10 billion and $600 million in grant assistance. India is proud of its educational and technical ties with Africa. We want to build genuine partnerships that create jobs and opportunities. It is with this in mind that we decided to offer 50,000 scholarships to African students to pursue educational opportunities in India. As always, our efforts will be driven by Africa’s priorities. Indian companies have invested over $54 billion in Africa. Our trade with Africa is now over $62 billion. We have also launched the second phase of the Pan- African e-Network project, which aims to provide five years of free tele-education to 4,000 African students and free medical education to more than 1,000 doctors, nurses and paramedics. The African continent receives nearly 20 per cent of our pharmaceuticals exports; these medicines are turning the tide on diseases, particularly HIV and malaria, that were once a threat to Africa’s future. They also continue to make health care affordable and accessible to the many. We are also one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa, which have played an important role in bringing peace and stability to the continent. India’s leadership continues to attach a very high priority to our partnership with Africa. In the past five years, we have made presidential, vice-presidential and prime ministerial visits to 32 African countries. There has indeed been an unprecedented transformation of our political engagement with Africa. Indian ministers have visited all 54 partner countries during this period and we have also decided to open 18 new missions on the African continent. And our engagement is not limited to the bilateral political level. Today India and Africa have comprehensive diplomatic mechanisms at all three levels — continental, regional and bilateral — through multilateral forums. In addition to the three editions of the India-Africa Forum Summits, we have held three meetings for the regional economic communities of Africa. I would like to conclude by saying that the underlying philosophy of India’s partnership with Africa is to empower Africa for a glorious future that is founded on the principles of inclusiveness, sustainability, peace and prosperity, dignity and respect for one and all.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on assuming your responsibilities as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. We wish you every success in this task. My delegation is pleased to commend the progress detailed in the report of the Secretary-General on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (A/74/193), with regard to the positive measures and provisions adopted by African countries in the area of development, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area, launched in July 2019, which is considered one of the continent’s most important achievements. Some parts of the continent are expected to witness great economic and commercial progress, in addition to the remarkable growth of foreign direct investment, albeit at various rates. We welcome and support such growth with a view to achieving further development and prosperity for the people of the African continent. In addition to the vast international support provided to the continent, such as that of the Group of 20, through various initiatives, all these factors represent an opportunity that is important to grasp in order to achieve the desired development. In that context, my country supports all joint efforts between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) aimed at creating a joint strategy to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063 with a view to ensuring effective implementation and contributing to achieving an environmentally sustainable structural, human-centred transformation. We commend the role of the African Union Development Agency in implementing regional priority projects in order to enhance regional integration towards accelerating the implementation of the Agenda 2063. It will also strengthen the capacities of the member States of the AU and regional organizations in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. In our belief that development is one of the key pillars for ensuring lasting peace and the security and stability of States, we have given it a major focus, as can be seen through the effective contribution of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, created in 1961, to supporting the sustainable development efforts of many countries around the world, particularly on the African continent. The Kuwait Fund cooperates with more than 52 African countries in all areas of construction and infrastructure, and invests some $10 billion on the African continent. The State of Kuwait is proud of its historical and strong relationship with African States. It has also enjoyed observer status in the African Union since 2012. In order to strengthen that relationship, in 2013 we hosted the third Afro-Arab Summit under the slogan “Partners in development and investment”. At the Summit, His Royal Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah announced his initiative to grant soft loans amounting to $1 billion to African countries through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. At the Summit, Kuwait also announced that it would invest $1 billion, under the supervision of the Kuwait Investment Authority, in infrastructure on the African continent. In the context of our humanitarian efforts in Africa, the Amir of Kuwait has also launched a humanitarian initiative, an annual prize of $1 million to promote development research in the food, health and education sectors in Africa, known as the Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development. It is a contribution from Kuwait to advancing economic, social human resources development in Africa. In conclusion, the State of Kuwait reaffirms that resolving conflicts, peacebuilding and achieving lasting peace are critical to sustainable development. It is therefore imperative that the United Nations and all its agencies continue to enhance the capacities of African countries by implementing the Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020 initiative. The Security Council, in resolution 2457 (2019), has reaffirmed its importance as a critical step in implementing the development goals of the African Union. As an observer in the African Union and in cooperation with African States, my country will continue to fulfil the vision of peace, stability and development in Africa.

My country’s delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, we thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting to discuss rolling back malaria. In that connection, I would like to make three key points. First, there is a critical need to focus on this illness, which has killed many people, and we must continue our efforts until we succeed in rolling back malaria. Nevertheless, as reflected in recent reports on this issue, the world is no longer making progress in this fight. It is our view that the United Nations agencies, as well as the United Nations resident coordinators and the other partners, should prioritize a new plan of action for 2020 by coordinating a new partnership to roll back malaria. Secondly, it is possible to make headway in the fight against malaria without incurring additional expenses by using the collective services of the United Nations agencies and their partners. We can achieve this by establishing mechanisms to revisit the possibility of offering joint services through various sectors, such as education, health care and sanitation, among others. That would be one of the most important initiatives that we could launch in 2020. Thirdly, since pregnant women and children under five are especially vulnerable to malaria, it is of vital importance to focus our efforts on those two groups when it comes to prevention and treatment. We can use various tools, such as indicators and medical consultations with young people and women. In addition, we call for a particular focus on the possibility of jointly providing services to pregnant women and children through UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations that deliver valuable support to those population groups. We commend the strengthening of the efforts of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria to focus on women and children. In conclusion, we are proud to contribute to the fight against malaria and to its treatment through the World Health Organization, the RBM Partnership and the support provided by the United Arab Emirates to end malaria in many countries. We will maintain our commitment to supporting such efforts in this critical period because we believe that success is possible.

Thailand aligns itself with the statement delivered by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I would also like to thank the Secretary- General for his reports on the agenda items under consideration (A/74/193 and A/74/301). Thailand believes that Africa has indeed come a long way. That continent of hope has grown and today plays an increasing role with ever-growing potential in the world economy, as well as expanding opportunities thanks to the region’s abundant human and natural resources. Thailand would like to congratulate Africa on several developments this year. First, Thailand welcomes the recent entry into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area, making it one of the largest free trade areas in the world in terms of participating countries. Secondly, we welcome the recent transformation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency into the African Union Development Agency to help accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU) and its first 10-year implementation plan, while continuing with the NEPAD priorities. Thailand is committed to cooperating with Africa to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and build on the solid groundwork already laid out for realizing the AU vision of an integrated, prosperous, peaceful and people-centred Africa through various initiatives in the areas of agriculture and food security, infrastructure, women and youth empowerment and health. Thailand’s development cooperation with Africa, which has a track record of more than four decades, has been based on trust, understanding and mutual interest. The Thailand International Cooperation Agency has been coordinating the implementation of various development projects, train-the-trainer courses and international postgraduate programmes in those areas in Africa. We will continue to further deepen and strengthen our cooperation in the spirit of South- South and triangular cooperation, which we believe have great potential to contribute to the realization of the 2030 Agenda. Thailand also recognizes that if we are to achieve the 2030 Agenda, it is crucial to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages. In the context of the topic under discussion, Thailand welcomed the adoption of resolution 73/337, entitled “Consolidating gains and accelerating efforts to control and eliminate malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, by 2030”, by the General Assembly last month. In the resolution, the General Assembly reaffirms the one common goal of ensuring a world free from malaria by 2030 through multisectoral action, including community engagement. In that connection, in acknowledgement of the indispensable role of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Thailand recently announced a renewed pledge of $4.5 million for the period from 2020 and 2022. For Thailand, our continued efforts under the national malaria-elimination strategy for the period 2017 to 2026 have led to a significant reduction of the malaria burden in the past decade, with the aim of eliminating malaria by 2024. We remain committed to sharing our knowledge, experiences and lessons learned with other malaria-endemic countries in all regions of the world, especially with regard to strengthening health systems, achieving universal health coverage and taking a people-centred, rights-based approach to delivering health care so that no one is left behind. In conclusion, Thailand reaffirms its solidarity with Africa. We stand ready to continue to further promote our cooperation and partnership with the aim of contributing to Africa’s efforts towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 and delivering for the people.

We welcome this debate under your leadership, Mr. President, as well as the latest reports of the Secretary-General on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (A/74/193) and on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (A/74/301). Challenges remain, it is true, but progress continues to be made by African countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU). Africa is on the right path. Inclusive and sustainable development is key to addressing the root causes of conflict and instability across Africa. We welcome the entry into force this year of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which represents a major step towards the realization of an integrated, prosperous, peaceful and people-centred Africa. Italy stands ready to contribute to the process of regional integration by promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainable development with an integrated approach encompassing humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and private investments. We are among the top 10 investing economies in terms of foreign direct investment in Africa and among the top 10 donor countries. The Italian Government is committed to increasing even further our development assistance to the continent. In line with that commitment, we have increased our presence in African countries and have opened new embassies in the Niger, Guinea and Burkina Faso. Italy is one of Africa’s main partners in terms of socioeconomic development, assisting with training and capacity-building programmes identified in agreement with local authorities and with full respect for the principle of African ownership. Italy invests in a wide range of projects, from agribusiness to infrastructure and from health to education. As a member of the European Union (EU), we have consistently advocated for strong EU engagement in Africa. As a member of the Group of Seven, Italy remains committed to increasing its investments in African countries. Most recently, we announced €10 million in support to Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa, launched by the African Development Bank. Women are a priority of our action in Africa, as women’s empowerment is integral to the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. We are increasingly focusing our efforts on protection and assistance for the most vulnerable groups, such as migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons, and within these groups, for those who suffer most in humanitarian crises, particularly women. Many important and positive developments have taken place in the last year. A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts to promote reconciliation in the Horn of Africa, specifically by bringing the protracted confrontation with Eritrea to an end. In the Sudan, the successful political transition that led to the formation of the new Government has opened a new era for the country. The Bangui Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic has had a positive impact on the lives of the people of the Central African Republic, even though some challenges remain. Those are just some recent examples that show how African ownership is key to finding sustainable long-term solutions. Accordingly, strengthening the African Peace and Security Architecture will help ensure peace and security on the continent. Italy commends the progress already achieved in operationalizing the African Peace and Security Architecture, especially the AU Peace Fund. I want to recall in that regard that we remain in favour of using United Nations assessed contributions for African-led peace operations, provided that appropriate standards in terms of troop preparedness, training, equipment, financial transparency, human rights compliance, and conduct and discipline are met. We have consistently supported the new impetus given by the Secretary- General to the AU-United Nations partnership and call on the two organizations to further strengthen that strategic cooperation. It is crucial to deepen the cooperation mechanisms between the United Nations and the relevant African subregional organizations on the basis of complementarity and subsidiarity. We also attach importance to advancing trilateral cooperation among the United Nations, the AU and the EU. Reforms are also needed within the United Nations in order to allow African countries to contribute more significantly to maintaining peace and security on the continent. Italy supports the legitimate aspirations of Africa to greater representation in the Security Council. In that regard, let me recall that Italy, together with the United for Consensus group, is promoting a proposal based on the creation of new, long-term seats assigned to regional groups with a possibility of immediate re-election. The proposal is meant to create a more representative, accountable, democratic, transparent and effective Council in which Africa would be the most represented regional group. As the Secretary-General rightly points out, the role of partnerships in implementing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 on the continent is crucial. Building sustainable and long-term partnerships is exactly the spirit in which Italy will continue to strengthen its relationship with Africa. Our geography, common history, friendship and shared destiny make the African continent a strategic priority of our foreign policy. In line with that commitment, we look forward to hosting the third iteration of the Italy-Africa ministerial conference in 2020, which represents the structured framework of the partnership established between Italy and African countries. I would like to conclude by reaffirming Italy’s commitment to bringing forward its partnership with Africa in pursuing the objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. Our long-term engagement alongside our African friends is and will remain a priority.

Sierra Leone is pleased to participate in this joint annual debate on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which gives us an opportunity to review the implementation of and assess international support for the initiative. At the outset, I should like to align my statement with the statement delivered by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as that to be delivered by the Republic of Zambia on behalf of the Group of African States. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his highly analytical and comprehensive report (A/74/193), which makes valuable policy recommendations. Sierra Leone recognizes and appreciates the support that Africa has received from the United Nations and international partners in the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. We believe that support is also complementary to efforts aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU). In his report, the Secretary-General recognizes that African countries have made significant efforts in their national development frameworks to mainstream the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the first 10-year implementation plan of Agenda 2063, and those efforts have translated into progress towards the achievement of those Agendas’ goals. In that regard, I am pleased to say that Sierra Leone has aligned the eight pillars of its national development plan with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Implementing our national development plan therefore effectively means that we are implementing the global and continental development frameworks. However, there are challenges in implementing these global and continental frameworks. In the first instance, the lack of adequate financing continues to hinder the full transformative potential of the 2030 Agenda and the AU’s Agenda 2063. There is no gainsaying the fact that African countries should take the lead in mobilizing public and private financing domestically. However, domestic efforts need to be complemented by international initiatives in order to achieve the full potential of the Agendas. In that connection, we will continue to request that our international partners reverse the trend of a decline in overseas development assistance and that they increase their support with a view to fully financing implementation. If human and technical capacities are not strengthened and appropriate technology is not transferred, it will be virtually impossible to achieve the 2030 Agenda, let alone in less than 11 years’ time. Sierra Leone welcomes the efforts of the African Union to improve the streamlining of implementation efforts and to increase coordination among African countries in order to accelerate the achievement of the goals laid out in Agenda 2063 and its first 10- year implementation plan. In that regard, we further welcome the transformation of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency into the African Union Development Agency. We believe that the African Union Development Agency will propel our efforts to implement Agenda 2063 by promoting regional integration through the coordination of continental and regional projects and by strengthening the capacities of African countries to realize the Agenda 2063 goals through various projects and policies. In the past decade, the international community has contributed immensely to making remarkable progress on malaria control and prevention. Many African countries have successfully reduced malaria incidence, resulting in meaningful actions that have saved lives and strengthened collective efforts. In that regard, Sierra Leone welcomes the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 and the United States President’s Malaria Initiative as appropriate frameworks for continued global efforts against the disease. Those initiatives and other programmes will complement the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria campaign to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality rates by at least 40 per cent in the coming year. In conclusion, let me reiterate that the New Partnership for Africa’s Development is a road map for the development of the African continent. Sierra Leone recognizes that and looks forward to working with our international partners to accelerate the implementation and progress of both the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the Group of African States at this joint debate on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) — an issue whose importance to Africa I cannot overstate. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the matter (A/74/193). We welcome the opportunity to review the progress made in implementing and providing international support to NEPAD. These reviews provide us with an opportunity to take stock of the achievements of recent years, the areas in which our efforts have fallen short and the steps that need to be taken in the coming years in order to maximize the benefits of the New Partnership. NEPAD serves as the focal point of the African continent’s plan to foster socioeconomic progress. In that context, African countries have been working to realize the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as Agenda 2063 of the African Union and its first 10-year implementation plan. Most importantly, Agenda 2063 incorporates the priorities of NEPAD. In 2017, the African Union decided that the improved streamlining of implementation efforts and increased coordination among African countries would accelerate the achievement of the goals laid out in Agenda 2063 and its first 10-year implementation plan. That is why the decision was made to transform the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency into the African Union Development Agency. The African Union Development Agency will catalyse efforts to implement Agenda 2063 by promoting regional integration through the coordination of continental and regional projects and by strengthening the capacities of African countries to realize the goals of Agenda 2063 through various projects and policies. The Agency’s structure was finalized and its statute and rules of procedure adopted at the African Union Summit in July. We are confident that its establishment will be a boon to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, African countries have made significant efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and the first 10-year implementation plan of Agenda 2063, and these efforts have translated into progress towards the achievement of those Agendas’ goals. I would like to highlight some of those efforts and initiatives. First, in recognition of the importance of good governance, the African Peer Review Mechanism was developed as a tool to facilitate the self-monitoring of implementation efforts under NEPAD, and, as of July, 38 countries have joined the Mechanism. Secondly, African countries have continued to promote free trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area, which, we are pleased to note, went into effect on 30 May. Thirdly, African countries have developed and implemented measures with the assistance of the African Union Development Agency to achieve the core priorities of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, with recognition that the efforts of individual African countries to promote the implementation of the Agendas are fundamental to their practical success. Additionally, the African Group recognizes the need to continue working to promote security and address displacement on the continent and will continue to develop durable solutions to these issues. In particular, we recognize that development and humanitarian financing are key components of these solutions and note that African Union member States have agreed to increase their contributions to the humanitarian assistance fund by 2 per cent. The African Group appreciates the support that it has received from the United Nations and from international partners in its implementation efforts. We recognize that the support of the international community plays an important role in translating the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 into achievements. There are areas in which increased international support would facilitate greater progress in their implementation. For instance, the lack of financing continues to hinder the full transformative potential of the Agendas. We recognize that African countries should take charge in the first instance to mobilize domestic public and private financing. However, domestic efforts will be insufficient to achieve the full potential of the Agendas, and, as a result, we ask our international partners to increase their support in closing the financing gaps. Additionally, the lack of capacity prevents the full realization of domestic efforts, and, as a result, we call on partners to strengthen their capacity-building support. Despite all those positive developments with regard to the implementation and progress in fulfilling the promises of the Agendas, the African Group is particularly concerned about trends involving a number of issues that pose risks to the progress we have made and may endanger future progress. First, we are concerned about the possibility of greater commodity- price volatility, which would have an especially negative impact on the economic outlook for African countries. Secondly, we are concerned that the imposition of trade tariffs will diminish the economic gains made possible through trade, which is especially worrying for African countries that have made trade a core component of their plans to foster economic growth. We are also concerned that this pushback against free trade and other factors will contribute to a global economic slowdown, which jeopardizes the economic progress made by African countries in recent years. Thirdly, we would like to reiterate our concern about the decline in official development assistance and urge our international partners to take steps to reverse this trend. Fourthly, we are concerned about the risks that climate change poses to African economies, which are particularly susceptible to damage from climate harm. We urge for a strengthened cooperation and response from all in stepping up their ambitions to address climate change, especially in the light of the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Santiago, Chile. Fifthly, we are concerned about increasing debt burdens in Africa and the risks they pose to debt sustainability  — a key factor in economic growth. However, we must emphasize that the growth of debt is only a symptom. As African countries, we urge that the root causes be addressed and that capacities to manage rising debt levels be enhanced. Nevertheless, we as the international community are not powerless in the face of these concerns. Let us make sure that together we take concrete actions to reduce the risks that these issues pose. NEPAD serves as a reminder of the importance and effectiveness of multilateralism. The African Group recognizes this fact and looks forward to working with its international partners to accelerate the implementation and progress of both the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the observer of the State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. My delegation would first like to express its appreciation for the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 72/310, adopted at the seventy-second session of the General Assembly, which entrusted the international community and United Nations system with organizing support for African countries in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (A/74/193). My delegation also commends the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report on the causes of conflict and promotion of durable peace and sustainable development (A/74/301). Both reports contain a comprehensive review of the progress made in the implementation of NEPAD and the establishment of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. The reports also identify the challenges and constraints encountered in terms of implementation. Africa has suffered through considerably difficult times and continues to encounter an array of problems so complex that we cannot expect immediate solutions to them. Nevertheless, Africa’s record of achievements thus far must also be acknowledged. For its part, the international community should continue and increase the momentum of its assistance and demonstrate its solidarity with our African partners. My delegation is heartened by recent developments in the realization of the NEPAD initiatives. The first development is the progress made in the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism, which is aimed at increasing the transparency and accountability of African Governments. We also welcome the critical role played by the African Union Development Agency in coordinating the implementation of subregional and continental programmes and projects across the key NEPAD priority sectors. Those two positive developments indicate that the NEPAD process has been moving forward to address the problems at hand. Such commitments on the part of African leaders, commendable as they are, will not be sufficient to overcome the many difficulties that Africa is currently encountering. The rate of poverty in Africa, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, remains high. According to the report of Secretary-General on the implementation of the third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018-2027) (A/73/298), the highest prevalence of undernourishment in the world was recorded in Africa. Furthermore, the mortality rate among young children remains high and primary school enrolment is low. The recent economic climate in Africa is not very encouraging, as 2018 was characterized by a slowdown in economic growth, with increasing trade tension, rising inequality and adverse climate change. In the light of these challenges, it is imperative that African countries redouble their efforts and demonstrate that Africa remains a viable development partner in the world. At the same time, the international community must respond appropriately to African efforts by helping our African friends help themselves. In this context, it is significant that the Government of China has launched eight initiatives to strengthen China- Africa cooperation over the next three years, including an extension of $60 billion in financing to Africa in the form of Government assistance. It is also a positive development to see a continued increase in net official development assistance to Africa, which increased from $49.9 billion in 2016 to around $51.8 billion in 2017. But those developments, however encouraging, are still far from adequate to addressing the many and varied needs of Africa. Member countries of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development should allocate additional resources for achieving the target of raising official development assistance to 0.7 per cent of their gross national income and reaffirm the commitment to achieving the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. My delegation is of the view that South-South cooperation remains key to assisting African development. The trend to increased economic and technical cooperation between Africa and other developing regions in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean is particularly welcome. The Asian-African Subregional Organizations Conference, held in Jakarta in 2015, is an example of the revitalization of the spirit of the Afro-Asian movement and solidarity that began more than 60 years ago. My delegation welcomes the role that the United Nations is playing in the implementation of NEPAD by helping to structure activities in accordance with the priorities of its agenda. We welcomed the signing on 27 January 2018 of the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which will promote the integrated and coordinated implementation, monitoring and reporting of both Agendas through joint activities and programmes. We must also give due recognition to the productive role that the private sector and civil society can play in ensuring the success of NEPAD. We recognize that every country faces unique challenges towards achieving sustainable development. Like many countries in Africa, Myanmar has lagged behind in development due to internal armed conflicts. Drawing lessons from the post-independence history of the country, which were replete with the armed insurrections by ethnic groups, we strongly believe that peace and stability are most crucial to achieving development. Durable peace, security and sustainable development in Africa are intertwined and interrelated. In this context, NEPAD remains the most viable approach to achieving sustainable African development and durable peace. It is essential that the international community remain engaged with the countries of Africa for the successful implementation of the home-grown process that was drawn up so wisely by the African leaders.

As I address the General Assembly for the first time as Permanent Representative of Algeria, on an issue that is key to the development of our African continent, and under the presidency of our brother Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, this naturally seems an auspicious convergence of circumstances. Today’s joint debate offers me the opportunity to share, although in a very brief way, the views of my delegation on the activities of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an African- owned and African-led blueprint for the continent’s socioeconomic transformation and a catalyst of national and international efforts on key priority sectors of sustainable development in Africa. The report of the Secretary-General on NEPAD before us attests to the important achievements during the reporting period (A/74/193). We note with appreciation most of the findings and recommendations contained in the two reports of the Secretary-General on the current agenda item (A/74/193 and A/74/301). We strongly support the recommendation in the first report to undertake a major, comprehensive review of United Nations support to NEPAD since the adoption of the resolution 57/2, which in our view should assess the impact of the support and lessons learned and include recommendations on modalities for future engagement. The seventeenth consolidated progress report on the implementation of NEPAD and international support for it also reveals encouraging findings. It shows continued progress on a number of issues, including a favourable economic performance in Africa. The launch in July of the African Continental Free Trade Area was unquestionably a significant milestone during the reporting period. Africa is now the world’s largest free trade area, with 1.2 billion consumers and a combined gross domestic product of $3.4 trillion. The entry into force of the Free Trade Area represents a major step towards the realization of the African Union vision of an integrated, prosperous, peaceful and people-centred Africa. Boosted by this momentum, good progress has been made in initiatives such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. For the sake of time, I will focus on just a few of the issues discussed in the report. We welcome the progress made across the board, including in health, education, information and communications technology, and in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment. Given the increasing vulnerability of African countries to climate change and its devastating impact on agriculture, as witnessed in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the wake of Cyclone Idai in March, we believe that beyond providing adequate support to affected countries, we should increase investment in building resilience to strengthen Africa’s capacity to withstand climate- and weather-related shocks. Let me probe a little on the issue of infrastructure. Algeria is actively involved in several integrative construction projects — the Trans-Sahara Highway, the Trans-Saharan fibre-optic backbone from Algeria to Nigeria and the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline, running from Algiers to Lagos. The Trans-Sahara Highway will facilitate seamless road transportation over a distance of 5,000 kilometres, from Algiers to Lagos. It aims to open up a transport corridor for more than 400 million people across more than 6 million square kilometres. It will enable landlocked countries of the Sahel, including Mali, the Niger and Chad, to have direct access to the Mediterranean. Algeria has completed the construction of 1,600 kilometres of the Highway, with the programme of an 800-kilometre-long dual carriageway in progress. My country attaches great importance to this infrastructure as a fundamental vector for economic activity and growth, trade and investment and interconnection and integration in Africa, as well as the improvement of the living conditions of the population. Algeria has completed its 2,700 kilometres of the 4,500-kilometre fibre-optic line from Algeria to Nigeria, which will also benefit the Niger and Chad, and we are an active partner in the construction of the 2,303-kilometre-long gas pipeline that will run from Nigeria to Algeria through the Niger to connect to the existing 220-kilometre pipeline between Algeria and Spain. Among NEPAD’s successes is the African Peer Review Mechanism, whose achievements cannot be underestimated. The Mechanism is often described as a unique and innovative African approach aimed at improving governance at the local, national, regional and continental levels. With Botswana becoming the newest member a few months ago, 38 countries have now joined the Mechanism, which continues to provide support for the implementation of commitments with regard to governance in all its dimensions. We sincerely thank the Member States of other regions and the international community as a whole for their continued support for the implementation of NEPAD and for their commitment to supporting the industrialization of Africa and other relevant initiatives that help to achieve Agenda 2063. However, we are concerned about the fact that net bilateral official development assistance for Africa for 2018 reached $29.7 billion — a fall of 4 per cent from 2017. Those are the preliminary estimates presented in the report and we hope that the final figures will be less negative. There is good news about aid effectiveness, where we have continued to make progress by further aligning development cooperation with national sustainable development strategies and promoting the transparency of development cooperation. The 11 per cent increase in foreign direct investment flows to Africa in 2018, to an estimated $46 billion, is a clear testament to the attractiveness of the continent, which ought to be nurtured through greater integration and cooperation among African countries in order to build on the comparative advantages of each African State, thereby creating more investment opportunities throughout the continent. The unique relationship between the African Union and the United Nations provides the good will necessary for a successful partnership in addressing the continent’s priorities and pressing needs. Algeria strongly believes that the United Nations system must continue to support the African Union through global advocacy and policy dialogue on solutions to African challenges. Collaboration and coordination between the United Nations system and the African Union are now conducted within three main frameworks, namely: the United Nations-African Union Partnership on Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda 2017- 2027; the United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security; and the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A harmonized and integrated approach to implementation of the two Agendas will help to minimize duplication, optimize resource use and mobilize the support of domestic and external stakeholders and development partners. We appreciate the fact that the interdepartmental task force on African affairs is being revitalized to enable it to play a role in enhancing system-wide coherence, The second Africa Dialogue Series, held at United Nations Headquarters in May, was no doubt a success. It succeeded in addressing and bringing global awareness, advocacy and support to the issues of forced displacement in Africa and in showcasing the best practices of African solidarity in dealing with these issues. In that regard, allow me to pay due tribute to Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa to the Secretary-General, Ms. Bience Gawanas, and her team for their dedication and valuable efforts. Before concluding, I want to note that having facilitated the informal consultations pertaining to the most recent resolution on NEPAD (resolution 73/335) — which for the second time in its history was unfortunately adopted by a vote — my delegation expresses the hope that next year’s resolution will regain its consensual nature. Finally, my delegation aligns itself with the statements made by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and the representative of Zambia, on behalf of the Group of African States.

My delegation aligns itself with the statements made by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and the representative of Zambia, on behalf of the Group of African States. We welcome the Secretary-General’s report (A/74/193) and express our appreciation for his leadership, tireless commitment and due attention to African development issues. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is based first and foremost on the commitment of African States to good governance, democracy and human rights, and to investing in efforts aimed at preventing crises and ensuring the peaceful resolution of conflicts. It also encompasses the adaptation of efforts in order to create conditions conducive to investment and development by enhancing resources needed to implement projects in such vital sectors as infrastructure, education, health care, agriculture, technology, information and communications. I would be remiss if I failed to note that the transformation of the Planning and Coordinating Agency of NEPAD into the African Union Development Agency has generated more momentum for NEPAD, development efforts and economic integration among African States by providing advisory, knowledge-based support to African Union member States within the framework of development and capacity-building to boost growth strategies. This year’s debate coincides with Egypt’s presidency of the African Union. Egypt has recently been working to bolster economic integrity and regional complementarity on the African continent by focusing on strengthening infrastructure as the best way to achieve the development of the continent. We have sought, in coordination with the African Union Commission and brotherly African States, to set up an agenda with a view to promoting economic development efforts, particularly by strengthening the infrastructure, agriculture and industry sectors on the African continent, as well as encouraging the private sector to contribute to African projects and programmes, enhance cooperation with international partners and pay closer attention to reconstruction and development efforts in post-conflict countries. In this context, I would like to highlight the historic achievement of our African continent in launching the African Continental Free Trade Area, which became operational in May. It is expected to shake up the global investment map and to strengthen inter-African trade and the ability of African markets to attract investments. The African continent is proud of its wealth in both human and natural resources and of the fact that it is home to more than half of the most rapidly growing economies in the world. Its importance is expected to increase as a market and a driver for global growth. However, Africa is still facing a number of challenges with regard to ensuring the funding needed to develop various infrastructure sectors. It is therefore imperative to redouble our efforts to mobilize resources at the local, regional and international levels. International partners must also meet their commitments with regard to official development assistance and to funding infrastructure projects in Africa. In that connection, I would like to draw my colleagues’ attention to the fact that in April, Egypt hosted the second ordinary session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism, which discussed developing strategies for smart infrastructure in order to promote regional transformation and integration, as well as continental action plans pertaining to transport, energy, tourism and infrastructure, enhancing inter-sectoral dialogue and launching an African women’s network on infrastructure. Furthermore, in November, under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt, my country will be hosting the Africa Investment Forum, which will welcome a number of African leaders and some 2,000 development partners, including businessmen and investors, with view to exploring new possibilities for creating a better future for the African peoples and achieving their development priorities within the framework of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 by increasing trade among African countries and boosting investment. However, we cannot talk about development without reference to the importance of good governance and peace and security — areas where our continent is dealing with emerging patterns of challenges, such as terrorism and organized crime, that none of our countries is immune to and that must be addressed through greater cooperation at the local and international levels. We must ramp up our efforts to resolve conflicts and crises by addressing their root causes, which means strengthening economic and social development activities, consolidating good governance and building the capacities of African institutions through the African Peer Review Mechanism, based on the principles of national ownership and Africans’ ability to chart their own future. In that regard, we would like to point out that in December Egypt will host the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, with the participation of a number of African Presidents and representatives of international and regional financial institutions, civil society and academic circles, aimed at exchanging ideas on how to translate the links between peace and development into recommendations to be implemented on the ground in a way that helps to address Africa’s challenges in this area. With regard to the fight against malaria in developing countries, especially in Africa, as part of the effort to roll back malaria by 2030, Egypt welcomes the international commitment to eradicating malaria and other diseases embodied in Sustainable Development Goal 3. In that context, we stress the importance of preventive measures, including strengthening the capacities of African countries’ health-care and disease-control systems. We agree with the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the efforts to roll back malaria and reduce related deaths by 2030. That can be achieved only through multifaceted approaches to all aspects of the problem, including information campaigns warning against its spread. In conclusion, we reiterate that Africa, which is home to more than 1.2 billion people, is the continent of the future. With African trade estimated to increase at a rate of 52 per cent over the next five years, we hope to see similar growth rates in other areas of social and economic development as we work to strengthen the foundations of peace and stability on the continent.

Indonesia aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We have taken note of the progress and challenges discussed in the Secretary-General’s report (A/74/193) regarding the priority areas of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. Indonesia recognizes the challenges facing African nations in their efforts to succeed in transforming the continent. We also recognize that the path to prosperity and peace must be home-grown. Indonesia therefore congratulates Africa on this year’s launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will accelerate intra-African trade and boost the continent’s trading position in the global market. Indonesia views the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as a solid launch pad from which to realize the aspirations of the continent’s peoples. It is also important to create synergies between Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Indonesia and African nations share a long history of friendship and solidarity dating back to the Asia- Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, 64 years ago. We are pleased to have been able to support Africa’s transformation recently through foreign policy, trade, infrastructure development and South-South cooperation. Trade volume between Africa and Indonesia reached a value of $8.84 billion in 2017 and is projected to grow further. Investments between Indonesia and Africa continue to grow. Indonesian companies are also setting up operations in Africa, including in the areas of pharmaceuticals, textiles, energy and food. In order to further accelerate our economic relations, in 2018 Indonesia convened the first-ever Indonesia-Africa Forum and followed it this year with an Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue. Both meetings resulted in economic cooperation and business agreements worth more than $500 million and $822 million, respectively. We also take note of the efforts being made to roll back malaria, which is a global problem. I would like to share details of an Indonesian initiative aimed at reducing malaria cases through early diagnosis and treatment that received a United Nations Public Service Award in 2018. The programme represents the collaboration of various stakeholders, including local Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. The early diagnosis and treatment programme established malaria specialists in remote areas, repackaged malaria drugs for use by undereducated people, utilized malaria kits, implemented malaria social-marketing programmes and integrated quality assurance. The programme reduced the prevalence of malaria in 12 pilot villages from 9.2 per cent in 2006 to 0.02 per cent in 2017. We also managed to reduce the malaria morbidity rate in 2016 from 114.9 per 1,000 people to 2.7 per 1,000 people in Teluk Bintuni regency in the West Papua province of Indonesia. The programme has helped those who are most vulnerable and prone to malaria attacks, particularly pregnant women, infants and toddlers. We believe it is important to share our experiences in this area, given that we share similar characteristics with African countries and that it may be possible to develop similar programmes as appropriate within the context of South-South cooperation, in accordance with national needs and interests. I would like to conclude by reiterating Indonesia’s commitment to creating a prosperous, just and peaceful world. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our friendship and relations with African nations and their people.

The Russian delegation is taking the floor to discuss sub-items (a) and (b) of agenda item 64, and is grateful to the Secretariat for preparing the related reports (A/74/193 and A/74/301). We welcome the coordinated efforts of the United Nations in this area. One important aspect of that was in assisting in transforming the Planning and Coordinating Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development into the African Union Development Agency. Another significant element was the achievement of the agreement on the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. We believe that the full and active participation of African States in global political, economic and humanitarian processes is to a large degree key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which mesh smoothly with the priorities in the development strategy of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. We support the intentions of the African Union and the United Nations in working to achieve a balanced relationship between these two far-reaching Agendas, which should help to implement both of them successfully. In that regard, we note the strengthening of the legal basis of the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and the signing in 2018 of the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Russian Federation considers cooperation with Africa a priority, and we are seeing an upsurge in Russian-African relations, including with regard to political dialogue, inter-parliamentary links and trade and economic relations. As a donor country for international development assistance we support our African partners through bilateral and multilateral channels. Our country has forgiven debts of African States amounting to $20 billion. We also contribute to international assistance programmes for Africa through the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Civil Defence Organization. We also provide assistance in kind. For example, in 2011 we supplied WFP offices in Africa with 258 Kamaz trucks, and we dispatched another consignment of 75 trucks and related equipment very recently. Like many other States, we have given support to those of our African partners that suffered as a result of Cyclone Idai in April. Russia was also one of the first to respond to the Ebola epidemic, with an allocation of $60 million to combat it. And we funnelled $20 million through the World Bank to implement the global RBM Partnership to End Malaria initiative. We believe that one of the key issues related to ensuring a successful future for the continent is the resolution and prevention of armed conflicts. We support the ever-growing role of the regional players themselves in that regard, as they are more familiar than others with the situations on the ground and possess the relevant response mechanisms. We believe that developing multilateral cooperation to that end on the basis of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations is crucial, including between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. We support further concerting the efforts of the two organizations to achieve political settlements of crises and conflicts in Africa. We believe it is vitally important to resolve the issue of ensuring reliable financing for African peacekeeping operations with Security Council mandates, specifically through the African Union Peace Fund. This year is a special one in the history of our cooperation with African countries. It has already been marked by a large number of joint events, including the Russia-Africa economic and parliamentary conference and business dialogue held in June and July in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, a process that will culminate on 23 and 24 October in Sochi at the first Russia-Africa summit and economic forum. We expect that milestone top-level event to be attended by delegations from more than 50 African States, more than 40 of which will include Heads of States and Government. The entire gamut of current issues of cooperation between our countries will be discussed during the event. We intend to continue our cooperation with African partners in order to enable them to achieve their development benchmarks on a continent-wide scale.

Kenya aligns itself with the statements delivered by the observer of the State of Palestine, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and by the Permanent Representative of Zambia, on behalf of the Group of African States. We commend the Secretary- General for his reports on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (A/74/193) and on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (A/74/301). We are in the fourth year of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Severe poverty levels persist, hunger is prevalent, the effects of climate change continue to pose a complex challenge and we are still struggling to mobilize sufficient resources to implement our desired goal of sustainable development, especially for us on the African continent. On the issue of climate change, I want to underscore that we in Kenya uphold the philosophy that Kenya’s flora and fauna are part of the common heritage of humankind and that our work at the United Nations must project and push harder to ensure that this global commons, this common heritage, is better protected. Despite those challenges, through its New Partnership for Africa’s Development Africa has devised an agency to enable socioeconomic transformation by coordinating and executing priority regional and continental development projects in pursuit of the realization of Africa’s blueprint for development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which is linked to the 2030 Agenda. As the Permanent Representative of Zambia said just a few minutes ago, Africa upholds and categorically reaffirms its rules-based ethos in the application of robust multilateralism. We cannot survive as the United Nations if we do not uphold that rules-based ethos. We welcome the significant development projects and programmes spearheaded by NEPAD, which have made significant contributions to our African countries. Kenya is a beneficiary of that partnership and to date is one of only five countries that have developed and implemented pilot programmes under the Africa Extractives Capacity Assessment Framework, as part of our efforts to domesticate the African Mining Vision. Similarly, a total of 7,093 women have benefited from 11 projects implemented in Kenya by the NEPAD/ Spanish Fund for the Empowerment of African Women. Those are just a couple of the numerous projects with NEPAD that have been very successful in Kenya. There can be no development without peace. The guiding principle of Kenya’s foreign policy is that peace, security and development are intertwined, interlinked and mutually reinforcing. One cannot be achieved without the others. Africa is facing conflicts that are driven by a range of issues and challenges, some of which originate outside our borders. Addressing the drivers and roots of those conflicts is therefore key to ensuring peace, and we must strengthen our capabilities to meet both our development and our security needs. We in Africa have to think clearly about how to ensure that we have a safe pair of hands to drive the agenda of the African continent within this institution. Kenya commends the exceptional leadership role played by our colleague from Namibia Under- Secretary-General Gawanas, the Special Adviser on Africa, and her Office. Their robust efforts to enhance the United Nations system and international support for Africa’s development, peace and security, particularly through the implementation of NEPAD, continue to be commendable. We count on that partnership to ensure strong cohesion between the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, as well as between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, with a view to enabling Africa to collectively and sustainably reap the benefits of durable peace and development. We were delighted that just two days ago the Security Council led a good delegation to South Sudan to discuss African issues and then went on to Addis Ababa to discuss with the African Union how to improve the integration of their efforts in order to realize that common objective. Kenya remains committed to African-owned and -based solutions in our joint quest to eliminate malaria by 2030. Today roughly 70 per cent of the Kenyan population remains at risk of malaria, with pregnant women and children under five being the most vulnerable groups. We have nevertheless witnessed several successes in recent years. A recent malaria indicator survey showed that malaria prevalence has fallen from 11 per cent to 8 per cent nationally. Moreover, in the past eight years there has been a 12 per cent drop in outpatient cases related to malaria. Those positive advancements have come as a result of innovative interventions in our malaria strategy. Furthermore, Kenya has put in place universal access to the diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Globally recommended, quality-assured malaria medicines are now available in public and faith-based health facilities at no cost. In September, in partnership with the World Health Organization, Kenya rolled out the world’s first malaria vaccine in a landmark phased introduction programme that will be piloted in eight counties in Kenya. The free vaccine can prevent 4 out of 10 malaria infections and more than 30 per cent of cases of severe malaria in the 6-to-24-month age group. Despite the gains made, a lot more must be done in the fight against malaria. This epidemic remains one of the top 10 causes of death in our country and a leading killer of children under the age of 5. Once again, we are committed to working with all partners in the quest to end the malaria epidemic as well as to ensuring Africa’s peace, security and sustainable development. I want to conclude with a clarion call for all of us to recommit and rededicate ourselves to the rules-based ethos that has underpinned, buttressed and girder our multilateral system. Those who undermine our rules undermine the integrity of or systems. Without rules, we cannot manage the present and definitely cannot face the problems of the future.

We align ourselves with the statements made by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and the representative of Zambia, on behalf of the Group of African States. We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report (A/74/193) on international support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). We fully subscribe to resolution 73/335 on NEPAD, adopted on 10 September, and look forward to its implementation. The Secretary-General’s report emphasizes the importance of development in our efforts to eradicate poverty, address food insecurity and increase efforts to provide health and education to the most vulnerable in our societies, notably poor, underdeveloped and underresourced rural communities. To that end, its focus on rural development, women and young people is most welcome. NEPAD, with concomitant support from the United Nations and the international community, is crucial to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is also directly aligned with and complements Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU). We appreciate the support provided by the Secretary-General and the United Nations at large for Agenda 2063 and the recognition of its vital importance to Africa’s development. The African Continental Free Trade Area is a game changer for the African continent, with the potential to bring a much-needed boost to intra-African trade. Africa has been lagging behind in that area, with trade between our countries much lower by comparison with other regions. Intra-African trade should spur entrepreneurship, promote the expansion of businesses, generate employment and generally lift African people’s standard of living. However, it will not realize its full potential without an enabling international environment. We therefore call on all countries to abide by their international trade obligations, particularly commitments made under the World Trade Organization. The expansion of trade among African countries will also require a robust strategy for manufacturing and industrialization across the continent. The African Union is therefore also correctly prioritizing the importance of industrialization. In that regard, we recognize the role of United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and their work in assisting African countries. Focusing on industrialization also means that Africa should not be left behind in global trends in technology, including digitization, among others. Industrialization can be an engine for poverty eradication by providing the poor and marginalized with a possibility of earning an income. The African continent boasts a large youth population. Those young people no longer consider themselves victims of circumstances but rather key actors in shaping the economic and political future of Africa. Key innovative enterprises that have emerged in Africa in technology, finance and energy have been driven by young people. We must harness that creativity and scale it up. Our Governments, with the support of the United Nations and the international community, should stand behind these young people and exploit their talents and ability to innovate for the good of all our societies. Intra-African trade, industrialization and the harnessing of young people’s potential also require a solid infrastructure development programme across our continent, which is why NEPAD and other development frameworks recognize infrastructure as the bedrock of progress in any country or subregion. We therefore call on the international community to support African countries as they develop both national and cross-border infrastructure projects. Well-developed infrastructure facilitates trade, makes it easy to do business and ensures the faster movement of goods and services. As we address all these challenges, we should not fail to mention the importance of reversing the scourge of illicit financial flows out of the African continent. For decades now this has robbed African people and countries of much-needed resources for development. It is done deliberately by those who have the means but seek to avoid all responsibility and accountability. We therefore support all efforts aimed at stopping illicit financial out of Africa. The nexus between peace, security and development cannot be overemphasized and obstacles to attaining it can only hinder development and progress. In that regard, we stress the importance of the African Union’s initiative for silencing the guns by 2020. We urge our partners to support it, including through efforts to curb the flow of small arms and light weapons into Africa. Furthermore, where arms embargoes are imposed, they should be respected by all. Their violation contradicts the aim of silencing the guns. We further call for the strengthening of the Regional Coordination Mechanism of the United Nations agencies in support of the African Union and its Development Agency. In that regard, we particularly welcome the alignment of the seven strategic priorities of the AU to the adopted consolidated mechanism work plan. South Africa welcomes recent pledges made to support the projects and programmes of the African Union Development Agency, and we affirm that this support creates the conditions that help to ease the dire conditions of the poor and vulnerable in many of our societies. In 2020, South Africa will take over the chairmanship of the African Union. In that connection, we look forward to working closely with the United Nations and all our international partners in order to further progress and development in Africa. In conclusion, we subscribe to the conclusions and policy recommendations in the Secretary- General’s report.

It is an honour to speak in my capacity as coordinator of the Group of African States in the Third Committee. At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretariat for its outstanding work in preparing the Secretary- General’s report (A/74/193) on the important topic on today’s agenda, and to assure the Assembly that the African countries take note of its recommendations in general. We welcomed the fall in new malaria cases that continued until 2016. Unfortunately, that figure rose from 217 million to 219 million in 2017. In that regard, we call on the international community to support the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, which is aimed at reducing malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 40 per cent by 2020. We believe that the whole world should adhere to the Strategy’s principle that no one should die from a disease that can be prevented, diagnosed and cured with the available treatments. It is therefore essential to intensify prevention, treatment and investment to protect all people, including those most at risk and especially young children. In that regard, we acknowledge the high burden associated with the impact of malaria, and the importance of a country-led response to ramp up the pace of progress and get back on track to achieve the targets of the Global Strategy, which is the best option. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union at its thirty-first ordinary session, held in 2018, endorsed as a political commitment the Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign, which is a way to engage all people in all sectors and countries in the fight against malaria and its elimination. About 70 per cent of all deaths in 2017 were concentrated in India and 10 African countries — Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, the Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although India, which accounts for 4 per cent of the global malaria burden, has made progress in reducing the disease, with a significant decline by nearly one-quarter, cases in African countries have risen by 3.5 million compared to 2016. We also welcome the positive trend we are seeing in Latin America. Paraguay was certified malaria-free in 2018 and is the first Latin American country to enjoy that status in 45 years. The number of countries in the process of eliminating malaria has risen from 37 to 46. Among them, Algeria, Argentina and Uzbekistan have requested that the WHO officially certify them as malaria-free countries. We are concerned about drug and insecticide resistance in several parts of the world. We call on all Member States, United Nations agencies, the international community and our partners to implement the global plan for artemisinin resistance containment and the global plan for insecticide resistance management in malaria vectors, as well as to strengthen and implement surveillance systems to monitor and evaluate drug and insecticide resistance trends. In order to maintain the momentum of prevention, control and treatment, we know that producers of long- lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and insecticides are accelerating technology transfer, particularly to developing countries. We call on the international community and our partners to support the strengthening of national health systems of countries suffering from malaria, national pesticide and pharmaceutical policies and drug and pesticide regulatory authorities, in order to monitor and combat the trade in substandard or falsified medical products, including low-quality antimalarial drugs, pesticides and mosquito nets, with a view to preventing their distribution and use. We further urge them to support coordinated efforts to comply with existing commitments and international regulations and standards on pesticide use in our countries. The reality we are facing is that as progress stagnates and declines, we risk losing the gains of recent years. We should therefore invest in reducing the number of people suffering from malaria owing to persistent morbidity and mortality in the countries that I mentioned. We are pleased that the promotion of basic and applied research on malaria treatment remains a priority. That will help to improve and adopt new, high- quality and cost-effective tools, including vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, surveillance, insecticides and vector control, and to strengthening our collaboration on new approaches. We believe that it is essential to step up national, cross-border, regional and subregional efforts to address the threats posed by the rise of insecticides and drug resistance, including artemisinin resistance. In conclusion, we agree that ending the burden of malaria requires a combination of political will and sustainable national malaria-control programmes. We recognize the importance of optimizing existing funding for overall health, including support for malaria control, but also of significantly increasing it in order to reach $6.4 billion per year, the 2020 target of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria. We urge the international community, United Nations agencies, international organizations, private foundations and all our partners to support the implementation of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, including by supporting the complementary Action and Investment to Defeat Malaria 2016-2030 and for programmes and activities at the country level. We reaffirm our commitment to put an end to that scourge. It is important that we work together to achieve the noble goal of eliminating malaria by 2030. We believe that together we can achieve universal health coverage for all.

China supports you, Mr. President, in presiding over today’s plenary meeting, which reflects your personal attention and dedication to Africa’s development. China aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the Observer State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is an important framework for African development, reflecting the continent’s key priority areas in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Africa’s efforts in recent years to fully implement Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU) and NEPAD are accompanied by fast economic growth. With gross domestic product growing at 3.5 per cent in 2018, Africa is becoming a new growth pole of the global economy. However, the effects of unilateralism, protectionism, regional conflicts, terrorism and climate change, among other things, still represent daunting challenges to Africa in its efforts to seek peace, stability and development. Peace and development in Africa are so critical to achieving the lasting peace and common prosperity of the world that the international community should view cooperation with Africa as a matter of strategic importance and increase its attention to and investment in Africa, in line with the strategic focus and priorities of African countries. First, it is important to support Africa’s endogenous development so as to enhance its capacity for sustainable development. The international community, with a view to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063, should prioritize poverty reduction and hunger eradication, among other things, focus on needs such as agricultural modernization, industrialization and infrastructure development, and vigorously strengthen cooperation in production-capacity management and regional connectivity. The principles of ownership and voluntary action should be adhered to and support should be given to the development path chosen, as well as to the development strategies formulated by African countries based on their own national conditions. Secondly, it is important to build partnerships in order to increase aid for Africa. The international community should actively honour its various commitments and expand the scale of aid to the continent. Developed countries should honour their official development assistance commitments and provide Africa with funds, technology and capacity- building, with no political strings attached. China’s main position on North-South cooperation should be upheld. Developing countries should strengthen South-South cooperation for common development based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. Thirdly, it is important to promote global economic governance with a view to improving Africa’s development environment. The international community should commit to win-win cooperation and to working together on paradigms for just and efficient global financial governance, transparent global trade and investment governance, green and low-carbon global energy governance and inclusive, interconnected global development governance, with a view to enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in global economic governance. Africa’s external development environment should be improved through financing, trade and debt relief. The entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area in May should be a new starting point in helping Africa to accelerate its regional integration. Fourthly, it is important to safeguard peace and stability in African countries and to support African solutions to African problems. The international community should show its attachment to Africa by prioritizing the achievement of peace and security there. We should trust in Africa and give full play to the initiative of African countries to solve their own problems. We should support Africa by enhancing its capacity to independently maintain peace and security. In order to help Africa enhance its own capacity to maintain peace and stability and combat terrorism, the international community should help speed up the development of an AU stand-by army, a rapid reaction force and an early-warning mechanism. China is the largest developing country in the world, and Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. China and Africa, having both experienced times of happiness and suffering, have long forged a strong bond based on shared destiny. Strengthening solidarity and cooperation with African countries remains a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. Through the joint efforts of both sides, the volume of trade between China and Africa reached $204.2 billion in 2018, up 20 per cent from the previous year. China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 10 years running. As of 2018, China had set up over 3,700 businesses of various types in Africa through direct investment exceeding $46 billion. Currently, across all business sectors, China has built more than 5,000 kilometres of railway and highways as part of its aid and financing to African countries. The Beijing summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum was held in September 2018. Leaders from China and Africa unanimously decided to push for closer integration of their joint implementation of the Belt and Road initiative, Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries. The aim is to jointly build a China-Africa community for a shared future featuring common responsibilities, win-win cooperation, shared happiness, thriving culture, joint efforts for greater security and harmonious symbiosis. The leaders also decided to take measures in eight areas — the promotion of industry, connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity-building, health and sanitation, person-to-person exchanges and peace and security. As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, China has always respected, loved and supported Africa and adhered to China’s five No’s. That means no interference with how African countries choose to explore their own development path, based on their national conditions; no interference in Africa’s internal affairs; no imposition of one’s own will on others; no political strings of any kind attached to aid; and no seeking to satisfy political self-interests by providing investment and financing to Africa. China hopes that all countries will adhere to those five No’s when dealing with Africa and will support African countries in taking the freely chosen development paths suited to their own national conditions so as to achieve endogenous development giving the people of Africa a happier, better life. China looks forward to working with African countries towards common development and continuing to enhance the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership, thereby making new and greater contributions to the efforts to build a new kind of international relations and a community of shared future for humankind.

The United States applauds the efforts of the African Union (AU) to realize the goals and aspirations of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). We support NEPAD’s overall mission to address the critical challenges that Africa faces, and the United States shares the AU’s goal of a stable and prosperous Africa. The United States continues to implement new areas of cooperation and collaboration with the AU through innovative initiatives geared towards strengthening sustainable development, as well as trade and investment. As many delegations know, in December 2018 the Trump Administration launched its Africa strategy, which calls for expanding commercial ties between the United States and Africa, advancing peace and security and supporting stability, good governance and self-reliance across the entire continent. The United States strategy recognizes that high-quality foreign direct investment is essential to Africa’s development. It underscores our long-standing commitment to Africa and to supporting our African partners as the continent transitions from foreign assistance to sustainable financial independence. And it recognizes that satisfying the first objective of the strategy, expanding two-way trade and investment, is the surest way to satisfy the objectives of advancing peace and security and promoting stability, good governance and self- reliance. In that spirit, the United States has made expanded economic engagement our number-one priority in Africa. Closer ties between the United States and African private sectors will expand markets for goods and services and contribute to greater American and African prosperity. That would be good news for the United States and for a continent whose population is expected to double by 2050. Our efforts to ramp up trade and investment could not have come at a better time as the African Continental Free Trade Area enters into force. We strongly support that agreement’s objectives of lowering trade barriers, attracting investment and diversifying trade. We believe that now is the time to discuss particular mechanisms to foster deeper economic partnership between the United States and our African partners. In fact, during the high-level week of the General Assembly just a few weeks ago, United States and African Government and business leaders met to discuss important developments and new tools that the United States is bringing to the table and how to meet the needs and ambitions of African economies. With the strong backing of the Trump Administration, our Congress passed legislation called the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act last year. The BUILD Act retools and expands the United States Government’s approach to development finance and more than doubles the United States Government’s resources for underwriting outbound private investment from approximately $30 billion to $60 billion. We are also excited about the new United States International Development Finance Corporation. This new institution increases the tools and resources of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and adds to the resources of the Development Credit Authority of the United States Agency for International Development. That new modernized development finance agency offers opportunities for more United States direct investment in Africa, as well as equity investments in African companies. The new United States Government-backed agency will also provide technical assistance and conduct feasibility studies for potential projects. It will support bankable projects that the private sector will participate in, and it will energize the United States Government’s important efforts to advance global women’s economic empowerment by directly investing capital in women-owned and women-supporting projects in Africa. Speaking of women’s economic empowerment, the United States is also pleased with its Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, which is our first whole-of- Government approach and effort to advance global women’s economic empowerment. In our view, targeted backing from the United States Government can catalyse significant amounts of private capital for emerging markets. That model of mobilizing private investment is only becoming more prominent, since the needs of developing countries in Africa are too great to be addressed with official Government resources alone. That is why it is so important to ensure that business representatives and leaders of critically important business associations are involved every step of the way. In addition, the United States announced the Prosper Africa initiative in June. At its core, Prosper Africa has three main objectives. First, it will establish a one-stop-shop where United States and African businesses can access the full range of United States Government services. Secondly, it strives to facilitate more business deals between the United States and African counterparts. Thirdly, it focuses on promoting better business climates and financial markets on the continent to attract more investment. Delivering on trade and investment opportunities for American and African businesses will create employment and increase production in both the United States and Africa. Many of those projects have social benefits as well, including, for example, addressing critical housing shortages and identifying more affordable housing solutions for African countries that need them. We are also working with African partners to bring forward fair and reciprocal free trade agreements that can serve as a conduit for the investment that many African countries need and desire. Our free trade agreements provide the legal certainty necessary for private-sector investment. Not all countries investing in Africa have followed that model of engagement. Instead, they leverage asymmetrical and unfair business deals that infringe on national sovereignty and often trap countries in spiralling debt. Their bottom line is economic dependency, not self-reliance. Unlike some State-directed models of development, the United States development finance approach focuses on incorporating the strongest United States business practices. By mobilizing our private-sector capital to build projects that are financially sustainable, we can avoid the debt traps that have often left countries worse off, and do more to improve underlying business climates and initiate virtuous circles that generate more trade, investment and growth. Our promise to Africa is this. United States economic engagement in Africa will, both bilaterally and through international organizations such as the United Nations, continue being predicated on respect for our partners’ sovereignty, ensuring that local workers benefit from our cooperation, upholding environmental standards, combating corruption and producing outcomes that are built to last. We are not only investing in Africa; we are investing in Africans by providing opportunities that strengthen the workforce and lead to economic self- sufficiency.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on these items. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 64 and its sub-items (a) and (b), and agenda item 13.