Commentary: Concerted global efforts key to new UN sustainable development goals

Countries, in whatever stage of development, could find their own places and make due contribution to attaining the new UN sustainable growth goals for the next 15 years, as concerted global efforts are essential to meeting the new goals.

"Cutting back on poverty is a UN goal set for 2015, which has regrettably fallen short of its designed targets," said Chen Shiqiu, vice president of the United Nations Association of China.

To continue the fight against poverty, a post-2015 sustainable development agenda was adopted by the 193 member states of the United Nations Friday morning.

More commitments and better coordination are urged to realize the 17 goals covering economic, social and environmental aims including ending poverty in all its forms everywhere, achieving gender equality and tackling climate change.

The success, or failure, of the UN new Sustainable Development Goals will be measured by international cooperation, Rui Araujo, the prime minister of Timor-Leste, told the UN Sustainable Development Summit Saturday.

Araujo warned that implementing the goals would be a difficult, and even perilous journey given the current state of the world.

To make them a reality, countries around the world should "step beyond national affiliations and come together for the common good," he said.

China is making an utmost effort in this regard. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday pledged to set up a fund, with initial contribution of 2 billion U.S. dollars to support South-South cooperation.

China has been taking a leading role in promoting South-South cooperation, said UN Undersecretary-General Gyan Chandra Acharya.

According to Acharya, South-South cooperation is changing the global economic landscape in the areas like technical cooperation, trade ties as well as investment relationship.

However, it should be observed that developing nations as a group are vulnerable to world economic crisis, market fluctuation and environment and security challenges.

Rich countries, including many that have built up their wealth at the expense of their developing counterparts, are obliged to lend a hand in global poverty reduction efforts.

Technologies and economic resources they possess put them at an advanced place to forge partnerships with developing nations to help improve the efficiency in economic development.

Among thorny issues concerning major national interests, an international vision is urgently called for on the part of leaders of the world's most developed countries.

The world's environment endeavors provide a touchstone for a nation's courage and sense of responsibility.

China has announced a cap on its emissions by around 2030, while the U.S. has made pledge of emission cuts of 26 to 28 percent below the 2005 levels, as representatives from the developing and developed camps respectively.

A common but differentiated responsibility in emission pledges should serve as the cornerstone in battle against climate change considering the rich nations' historical duties in environment pollution and stronger capacities in sustaining economic backlashes.

Based on this principle, hopes would be high for a final accord at the make-or-break climate talks in Paris in December, which forms a major part of the UN sustainable agenda to make our world a better place. Endi