China taking steps to push UN 2030 agenda

Cognizant of the importance of cities as vehicles for modernization, the Chinese government has not only expressed its national dedication but also its readiness to join hands with countries worldwide to write a new chapter on sustainable development in cities.

Speaking at the World Urban Forum in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday, Ni Hong, China's minister of housing and urban-rural development, said the Chinese government is actively taking steps to push forward the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.

Adopted in Ecuador's capital Quito in October 2016, the New Urban Agenda guides urban planning, design, finance, development, governance and urban regeneration to address both urbanization challenges and opportunities.

Ni said over the past few decades, China has experienced the largest and fastest urbanization process in human history, with the achievements in urban development receiving global recognition.

Since China's reform and opening-up in 1978, the country's urban population has grown from 170 million to the current 930 million, Ni said. This massive expansion came with its share of challenges but the government addressed them successfully.

Among the effective strategies that the government implemented, Ni said, were upholding the people-centered development philosophy, pursuing people-centered new urbanization, and embarking on a path of urban development with Chinese characteristics.

"We have always stayed committed to creating a good living environment, pushing forward green and low-carbon transitions of our cities, and building cities into beautiful homes where people coexist in harmony with each other and with nature," Ni said.

To successfully address housing issues, Ni said China's approach has been balancing both government support and market mechanisms.

He said the government provides basic housing needs for the public, while also optimizing real estate policies to meet the housing demands. Toward that end, the government constructs low-cost public rental houses for low-income urban households.

The average housing area per urban resident in China increased from 6.7 square meters in 1978 to more than 40 sq m by the end of 2023, achieving housing for all.

Ni said currently, China's housing development has entered a new phase, shifting focus from "availability" to "quality."

China will consistently be an active participant, a powerful advocate for, and a major contributor to sustainable development in cities, Ni said.

"We will continue to support UN-Habitat's work, deepen exchanges and cooperation with all parties … and jointly promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda, and the Global Development Initiative."