2010-04-02 07:44

World body's effort will take into consideration national priorities

BEIJING - China and the United Nations jointly unveiled on Thursday a five-year assistance framework that pledges better efforts in meeting environmental sustainability, social justice and boosting the country's standing in the international community.

The roadmap was jointly announced by Vice-Minister of Commerce Yi Xiaozhun and the UN Resident Coordinator in China, Khalid Malik, who will wrap up his six-year tenure in the country within the next two weeks.

Malik said the 76-page roadmap, backed by the Chinese government, would provide the overall framework for the work of 24 UN agencies, which will support China over the course of the country's 12th Five Year Plan (2011-15).

"The framework comes at a critical time and the period it covers represents the final five years before the Millennium Development Goals' deadline in 2015," Malik told China Daily in an exclusive interview just prior to the announcement in Beijing.

Under the framework, the UN has urged China to strengthen efforts in three areas (see box).

"This framework provides a basis for the partnership between the UN in China and its national counterparts - the relationship marked its thirtieth anniversary in 2009 - to move to a new level," said Malik.

The UN's work over the next five years in these areas will take into consideration national priorities and three intersecting approaches from the UN, including gender equity, the role of civil society, and a human rights-based approach.

Leadership praised

In the year 2000, world leaders had agreed on eight goals, including halving poverty by 2015. What happens in the next five years will determine whether the targets are met or not.

China has, in fact, already reached the poverty reduction target. Malik said other nations would have taken a hundred or two hundred years to match the progress that China made in the past 30 years.

China has lifted 500 million people out of poverty; it has ensured food security for its huge population and extended support to other developing countries.

"These are enormous contributions and there are (ample) evidences (to back it up)," said Malik. When asked why China had made such a tremendous progress during his term in China, Malik said the strong commitment from China's leadership was a vital factor.

"China has such a great leadership, which is so committed to making progress and helping others. I had many meetings with the leaders and was struck by their sincerity in achieving what they set out to do," he said.

He cited what Premier Wen Jiabao said on combating HIV-AIDS during a meeting recently: "This is not just a commitment from my government, but my personal commitment (as well)."

Through all the conversations during the past five years with Chinese leaders, Malik pointed out that the Chinese leadership seemed highly knowledgeable, and always knew what is best for the people.

"And they are highly dedicated in achieving their goals," he said.

China Daily