China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Photo exhibition highlights China’s world vision
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China hopes to share its ideas and accomplishments in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, which were demonstrated in a photo exhibition on Wednesday.
Wang made the remarks during a visit to the photo exhibition at the United Nations.
The exhibition, titled China in Action: Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, was presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by China’s permanent mission to the UN. It includes more than 40 photos.
Three years ago, while attending UN events marking the 70th anniversary of its founding, President Xi Jinping along with leaders from other countries jointly adopted the 2030 ASD, assuring a new era for the global cause of sustainable development.
As the largest developing country in the world, China has integrated the implementation into its mid- to long-term national development strategies and formulated a national implementation plan.
China was among the first to release its national plan and progress report. Following the new development philosophy, China has been pursuing balanced progress in its efforts on the economic, social and environmental fields.
“In the past five years, we lifted another 68 million people out of poverty, and we are working steadily toward the goal of making poverty history in the country by 2020,” Wang said, adding that China has incorporated the implementation of the 2030 Agenda into various primary agendas of several multilateral conferences.
“We have also scaled up South-South Cooperation and worked actively with our partners to undertake the Belt and Road Initiative, injecting new impetus to the global implementation of this agenda,” he said.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president of the 73rd UN General Assembly, said the exhibition highlighted China’s contribution to the sustainable development goals, noting China’s focus on SDGs is “crucial” for the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
“We present our major chance to respond to the aspirations of all people safeguarding our environment for current and future generations. To do that, we need to constantly remind ourselves in the interdependent world in which we either swim or sink together,” she said. “I witnessed China’s commitment and leadership for multilateral cooperation.”
Amina Mohammad, deputy secretary-general of the UN, said the photo exhibition is just a “snapshot” of the ways that China is working to achieve its SDGs and displays its “rich experiences”.
She commended China for its strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda, noting the country has aligned its current 13th FiveYear-Plan with sustainable development goals.
In addition to its “critical” role in the adoption of the action plan of the Paris Agreement, Mohammad said China also contributed to the sustainable development of infrastructure at the regional and global level through the Belt and Road Initiative.
She also welcomed China’s notable increase in international cooperation pledges in recent years for climate action and peacekeeping.