Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ ＮＧＯ Ｆｏｒｕｍ Ｈｅｌｄ ｉｎ Ｂｅｉｊｉｎｇ

The Chinese NGO Forum for the 58th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference sponsored by the China NGO for International Exchanges was held in Beijing on July 6. The China NGO for International Exchanges is a federation composed of all the Chinese NGOs in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and other national NGOs. Ramu Damodaran， chief of the Civil Society Service in the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information (DPI) of the UN， Sister Joan Kirby， chair of the Executive Committee of the 58th UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference， officials from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Civil Affairs， among over 70 representatives from 20-odd Chinese NGOs， attended the Forum.

Li Xiaolin， vice president of the CPAFFC， made a keynote speech. Centring around the theme of “Our Challenges: Voices for Peace， Partnerships and Renewal” and closely linking their own practical work， the participants elaborated their views， put forward recommendations and voiced initiatives on how to give full play to their advantages and mobilize resources to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in China and throughout the world by 2015. The Open Letter to the Executive Committee of the 58th UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference (full text on page 22) was approved at the Forum.

Mr. Damodaran in his speech fully affirmed the recommendations and initiatives put forward by the participants and held that to realize the MDGs needs the active participation and great efforts by the NGOs in all countries. Sister Kirby discussed with the participants how the community of Chinese NGOs can play an important role at the United Nations， a role that is enormous in its possibilities and recommended ways in which Chinese NGOs can actively and effectively participate in the September Conference this year.

The Forum was held in preparation of Chinese NGOs’ participation in the 58th UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference to be convened in September.