China's experience in economic and social development is helpful for other Asian-Pacific countries, especially for those underdeveloped countries, said a senior UN official in Shanghai Thursday.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Anwarul Chowdhury, who is in Shanghai to attend the 60th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP),said China may "share its experience" with the whole region through bilateral or multilateral cooperation.

Chowdhury is also the UN High representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. He said currently there are still 14 least developed countries in the Asian-Pacific region, in addition to some landlocked developing countries and small island countries located in the South Pacific Ocean.

"These countries face great challenges in economic development," said Chowdhury. "Many of China's experiences are important for these countries."

Chowdhury said the United Nations is trying to offer more assistance to these countries, and the international community is also encouraged to join the efforts.

"China is very supportive to these countries," he said, adding that the supports include active participation in UN programs in this area, cooperation with some landlocked countries and cutting debts of some small island countries.

Chowdhury also expressed his appreciation for China's performance in the field of poverty reduction, saying China's successful experience will help other countries to realize the Millennium Goal of cutting the number of their absolute poor in half.

The Millennium Goal advocated by the United Nations requires all countries to help at least half of their absolute poor people out of poverty before the year 2015. And a latest UN report showed that China has realized this goal by cutting its absolute poor from 250 million in 1978 to 30 million in 2000.

Chowdhury said China can also help other countries with technical assistance in a bilateral way or under the UN framework.

But Chowdhury said China should also learn from the experiences of other countries, such as in facing the challenge of HIV/AIDS.

Both China and India are suffering high infection rates of the HIV virus, and the experiences of Thailand and Uganda will be of great help, said Chowdhury.

He stressed that increasing the public awareness of the HIV/AIDS, especially young people's knowledge of it, will be the first step to contain the disease.

Source: Xinhua