UN Secretary-General: China demonstrates great leadership to advance 2030 Agenda

Representatives of the United Nations visit a family hotel in Lulang Town of Nyingchi City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, May 29, 2016. The UN representatives attending a joint high-level symposium on 2030 Agenda visited the city on May 29. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that China has demonstrated great leadership and made a remarkable commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"I am pleased that China has pledged to eradicate poverty in the country by 2020, increase south-south cooperation, and focus on action to tackle climate change," Ban said in a recorded video statement for a symposium in Nyingchi, Tibet.

"China's 13th Five-Year Plan has integrated the 2030 Agenda in the country's overall social, economic and environmental planning," he said, "I welcome China's continued leadership to achieve the 2030 Agenda both at home and globally."

The 2030 Agenda is a people-centered, universal, transformative and integrated plan. It recognizes that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with economic growth and addressing a range of social needs, while tackling climate change.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a video message that China will follow the path of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development and work with the rest of the world to advance the 2030 Agenda, calling on countries to identify major tasks in economy, society and environment.

Losang Jamcan, Chairman of the Government of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), said Tibet would endeavor to achieve sustainable economic growth and social progress without compromising the environment.

The event, jointly hosted by the UN system in China and the Chinese Foreign Ministry, brought together over 100 high-level participants to brainstorm on how equitable, open, all-around and innovative approaches can be promoted in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.