China's new pathway to urbanization will benefit world: UN officials

UNITED NATIONS - UN officials said Tuesday that China's efforts to follow the new pathway to sustainable urbanization, which is human-centered and environmentally friendly, will benefit both the country and the world.

During a high-level panel discussion and luncheon on sustainable urbanization in China here at UN headquarters, UN General Assembly President John Ashe said he is "heartened" by the fact that China intends not only to address its own problems, but certainly to share the lessons learnt with the rest of the world.

Here in the world organization, he said, we are embarking on elaborating on what we call the post-2015 development agenda. " Clearly, we address urbanization and of course, one of its key drivers -- migration would be important to any successful development agenda," he said.

"The efforts that China is making to address some of its problems will not only benefit us but certainly benefit China as it goes forward," Ashe noted.

Co-organized by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC), an ECOSOC-accredited NGO, this high-level discussion focuses on the new pathway to sustainable urbanization in China, providing an interactive discussion on China's urban development.

Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, made his remarks that the pathway China follows in urbanization will have far reaching impact, both inside China and beyond.

"China's experience offers important lessons for other countries; likewise, China can learn from the success stories and lessons learned from other countries," he said.

Cities can promote economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies if a holistic approach is adopted to ensure universal access to basic services, housing and mobility, Wu stressed.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, who is also the special adviser to the Secretary-General for the eight anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said China is certainly the "center of urban civilization."

The questions China have experienced during the urbanization process led the Chinese government to make the wonderful announcement of putting sustainability development at the very core of the country's strategy, Sachs said, adding this is a " brilliant move" and a "guide for the whole world".

"I am also extraordinarily gratified that china has become the leader in calling for urban sustainability for the center of sustainable development goals," he said. "We really need this."

In March, China unveiled the National New-type Urbanization Plan (2014-2020) in an effort to steer the country's urbanization onto a people-centered and environmentally friendly path. The plan provides strategic and fundamental guidance for the healthy development of urbanization across the country during the seven- year period.