The United Nations and the Chinese Government have launched the United Nations Development Assistance framework for China 2016-2020. The five year period that the new framework covers is aligned with China’s 13th Five-Year Plan. It also covers the initial years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted at the 70th General Assembly in 2015.
The new UNDAF provides a clear strategic direction for the UN system in China to support the country in three priority areas, including poverty reduction and equitable development, improved and sustainable environment, and enhanced global engagement.
The UN's development assistance programs began here in 1995. Since then, China has made huge progress in improving living standards. The number of people in China living under the poverty line has been reduced by 440 million. And the net enrollment rate for elementary schools has stayed consistently above 90-percent. One Un official said there are high expectations for this UNDAF program.
"It comes the time when we have to start to continue to see how we grow our wealth, how we grow everyone's development. We have to do so by making nobody behind, we have to do so by making sure not to destroy our planet. The UNDAF is starting at exactly the same time when those commitments have been made; starting at the same time that China is transferring these commitment into its 13th five year plan. So, we think this UNDAF is a special one," said Alain Noudehou, UN resident coordinator in China.
"We will take the UNDAF as a new starting point, to implement the 20-30 lasting-development agenda, and strengthen cooperation with the UN in all aspects, so as to make our contributions to global development. We are also grateful for the UN's support in funds and experience over recent years," said Wang Shouwen, vice minister of Ministry of Commerce.
