Promoting sustainable development

Sustainable development is a central tenet of China’s economy and the country is open to sharing its experience internationally by actively participating in global governance.

“Against the backdrop of sluggish global economic development, China remains the fastest growing economy, which has provided the preconditions and basis for China to contribute to global governance,” said Peng, adding that poverty is the root cause of global instability and China’s track record proves that it has the expertise and capacity to alleviate poverty.

“China is the world’s most populous country with a large number of people living in poverty. If China cannot realize its goal of alleviation and eradication of poverty, it is impossible for the UN to realize its [poverty eradication] goals,” said Peng.

Statistics show that during the 38 years after China’s reform and opening up, more than 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty. The country’s 13th Five-year Plan (2016-20) indicates that it will eradicate poverty countrywide by 2020.

According to Peng, from 2000, when the UN set eight Millennium Goals to the formulation and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China has played an important role in these initiatives. In addition, China included the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into its 13th Five-year Plan, which was adopted early this year.

The Hangzhou G20 Summit held in early September also adopted the Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “China has made great contribution to achieving this,” said Peng. The Chinese Government was among the first to adopt and release the country’s National Plan on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Chinese leaders are great advocates of this