Member States invited to offer guidance on efforts of UN System in China

The briefing was organized further to the commitment of the UN Resident Coordinator in China to regularly update Member States on the work of the UN in the country. Agreed upon between the Government of China and the UN in China, the UNSDCF represents the strategic and programmatic framework for work in support of the Host Country’s national development priorities, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With the UNSDCF about to enter its third year of implementation, the agenda of the briefing covered UN efforts to fulfil the framework’s three strategic priorities: People and Prosperity, Planet, and Partnerships. Member States were briefed on ongoing efforts, to improve China’s social and public services; accelerate efforts toward environmental protection and the transition to a people-centred, inclusive, low carbon, and circular economy; and inform China’s international financing, investments, and business engagements, as well as its development and humanitarian cooperation efforts, in line with SDGs.

In his remarks, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, said, “At the mid-point of our programme cycle, it is vital for the UN in China to take stock of our progress and chart the way forward. As the UN Resident Coordinator in China, I commit to lead by convening, connecting and catalyzing upon our role as the UN in China, to fully deliver on the UNSDCF, strengthen joint planning and programming of our Country Team, make the UN system fit for purpose in China and fully aligned with the Secretary-General’s bold reforms of the UN development system.”

The briefing provided the opportunity for Member States to provide their guidance and steer on the way forward, including through a well-participated interactive session with the Resident Coordinator and Heads of UN agencies in the country. The discussion underscored the primacy of safeguarding the key pillars that underpin the SDGs, including peace and security, universal human rights, and development, in line with agreed international norms and standards.

As part of the briefing, Member States had the opportunity to hear from the Chairs of the Results Groups and Theme Groups, the interagency mechanisms established to lead the work of implementing the UNSDCF.

In her presentation, Ms. Justine Coulson, United Nations Population Fund Representative to China, said, “As China is an upper-middle income country, we do not deliver programmes in the field on the scale that you would see in less developed countries. But we are still focused on ensuring that we deliver concrete results for targeted beneficiaries, and much of our downstream work in China is focused on addressing the specific needs of the most left-behind groups.”

In her presentation, Ms. Beate Trankmann, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in China, said, “In addition to data and research for evidence-based policymaking and practice, we are also providing policy analysis and advisory services to inform policy formulation, so that design and implementation aligns with UN Conventions as well as with international best practice, norms and standards.”

As a way to illustrate the programmatic efforts and their focus on vulnerable groups and leave no one behind, attendees were invited to view a short video titled “Voices from the People We Serve”, which highlighted the experiences of beneficiaries of UN projects on the ground.

After the briefing, H.E. Mr. Assem Hanafi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the People’s Republic of China, said, “I would like to thank the UN Resident Coordinator in China, Siddharth Chatterjee and his able team for the comprehensive briefing on the UN’s accomplishments in China over the last two years. I would also like to refer to the valuable role that the UN has played during the negotiations that took place during the COP27 conference in Sharm El Sheikh, leading to the best possible outcomes. Egypt is committed and willing to offer the utmost support to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Beijing, particularly in areas related to combating climate change and poverty reduction which remain amongst the priorities of Egypt and developing countries, and where partnership with UN – China and other developing partners and stakeholders is crucial.”

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China

Tel: +8610-85320725, Email: xi.li@un.org