China has set an excellent example for promoting sustainable development both nationwide and for the world as a whole, said chiefs of international organizations and overseas observers on Monday after a symposium on sustainable development at the United Nations headquarters.[Special coverage]
The UN-facilitated 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by world leaders one year ago. It outlines 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), aiming to guide the world to pursue economic and social progress while protecting the environment.
In this regard, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presided over the symposium to collect world wisdom to reach SDGs. China's experience in and contribution to sustainable development has also become a hot topic at the symposium.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
As the world's most populous country, China has made tremendous efforts and scored great in poverty-alleviation that are a strong support for the shrinking of poverty-ridden population worldwide.
China, with less than 10 percent of the world's arable land and 6 percent of the global fresh water, manages to provide food for 20 percent of the world population. It's remarkable achievement, noted Jose Graziano da Silva, director-general of the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations.
Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde commended China for "leading the chart of growth," as the country had doubled its GDP as well as the per capital income of its people over the past 10 years.
Macharia Munene, a professor on international relations in Nairobi, noted that it's inspiring for other developing countries as China has managed to help millions of people to get rid of poverty in a short period of time.
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
As the biggest developing country, China has shouldered the responsibility of pushing other developing countries onto the path of sustainable growth.
"China is also deepening South-South cooperation to help other developing countries implement the 2030 agenda, providing support and financing technology capacity building," President of World Bank Jim Yong Kim said.
Saeed Chaudhry, director of Islamabad Council for International Affairs, echoed by pointing out that in Africa where once no country or donor was willing to invest, now "You will see schools, hospitals, bridges, roads and other infrastructures built with Chinese assistance in many African countries."
He went on to say that for the true sustainable development of the developing countries, China has also provided training to hundreds of thousands professionals from different needy countries.
In the field of international trade, China also takes concrete measures to aid its African partners. China's imports from Africa represents about 18 percent of their total global exports. In addition, China has granted zero-tariff treatment to over 400 products from African states, 93 percent of their total exports to China, Chaudhry noted.
Numan Fares, a political analyst in Syria, lauded China for providing substantial assistance to countries that "are plagued with crisis and natural catastrophes."
Take war-torn Syria for instance. China has provided several aid shipments to the Syrian people to alleviate their sufferings, Fares added.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States in Sept. last year, China announced a plan to establish a 20 billion yuan (3 billion U.S. dollar) fund to help other developing countries combat climate change. Bambang Suryono, editor in chief of the Inhua Daily in Indonesia, quoted this to demonstrate that China is a responsible big country, which, while addressing its own challenges, has also made endeavors to help other developing countries to attain sustainable development.
Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, deputy secretary general of ASEAN for socio-cultural community, said that ASEAN member states look forward to working closely with China and UN entities in the course of implementing the 2030 Agenda.
