Chinese Premier Li Keqiang chaired a symposium on sustainable development on Monday afternoon at the UN headquarters in New York, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and leaders of other major international organizations present.[Special coverage]
In his speech, Li fully elaborated China's views on development, called for stronger global partnership and offered concrete measures to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and strengthen the South-South cooperation.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was formally adopted by world leaders one year ago. It outlines 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, with an aim to guide the world in pursuing economic and social progress while protecting the environment.
The implementation of the Agenda is currently high on the agenda of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, which opened last week.
At the UN development summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a series of measures to back sustainable developments, and at the G20 summit held in China's eastern city of Hangzhou on Sept. 4-5, China pushed participating countries to formulate action plans to implement the Agenda.
These three events - and others - illustrate that China attaches great importance to global sustainable development.
At the symposium, the Chinese premier unveiled China's own plan to implement the 2030 Agenda, which includes details on its experience with the UN's previous Millennium Development Goals.
It is the first national plan of its kind in the world and also a guideline for China on implementing the Agenda. It highlights China's determination to fulfill its international commitments and offers guidance to the world.
Acting is believing. China is a leader in promoting sustainable development. Developing together is a true development, and sustainable development is sound development.
But such is easier said than done. Any grand blueprint will not automatically become reality. The realization of the Agenda's goals is the common responsibility of the international community.
China is showing the world through action that it wishes to join hands with the international community to make common development and prosperity prevail the world over. Monday's speech by the Chinese Premier was yet another example.
