China to promote global sustainable development with UN agencies: premier

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) meets with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner (R) and UN-Habitat Executive Director Joan Clos in Nairobi, Kenya, May 10, 2014. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Premier Li Keqiang said in Nairobi Saturday China would deepen cooperation with UN agencies to boost green development, address climate change, so as to promote the world's sustainable development. [Special coverage]

The visiting Chinese leader made the remarks during talks with Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), and Joan Clos, head of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat). Both agencies were headquartered in Nairobi.

Hailing the UNEP's and the UN-Habitat's efforts to better the environment, development of the world as well as people's livelihood, Li said China, member of the two UN agencies, always supports their work and has carried out extensive, effective cooperation with them.

The Chinese government is making strides to advance the construction of ecological civilization, realize sustainable development which coordinates economic growth with social and environmental consideration, while the process of new-type urbanization is also at a pivotal stage in China, Li noted.

To enhance cooperation with the two UN bodies and experience-sharing with other countries for global sustainable development, China will continue to boost green growth, improve environment management and promote South-South cooperation on environmental protection and climate change, he said.

The UNEP's Steiner, for his part, lauded China's work to promote green economy and ecological civilization, saying China is an example for other countries in that regard, and that its important contribution to the world environment and development cause is appreciated.

The UNEP thanks China's support and assistance and is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side, he said.

Meanwhile, the UN-Habitat's Clos said China, in the past two decades, experienced the largest-scale urbanization in human history and achieved a great success.

Africa is gearing up its urbanization drive and urgently needs expertise, fund and infrastructure, while China's experience and support will be vitally important, Clos said, inviting China to make greater contribution to the development of Africa and of the world at large.

Li is in Kenya for the last leg of his ongoing four-nation Africa tour, which has already taken him to Ethiopia, Nigeria and Angola.