In 2009, the UN system in China celebrated its 30th anniversary. This celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the UN-China development partnership in its first three decades.
Since 1979, China has made great progress in human development, including extraordinary success in poverty reduction as over 500 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty. China's rapid economic growth has resulted in a remarkable improvement in Chinese people’s life standards. This success, however, has come with some challenges, such as rising inequality between regions and communities and concerns around environmental sustainability.
As a response to these challenges, the Chinese Government is determined to build a harmonious moderately prosperous society with fewer disparities. This Chinese vision of development, articulated in the Xiaokang society, mirrors the principles of the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and serves as the foundation of UN contribution to development in China. This partnership for development has become stronger in recent years, as the UN and the Chinese government work together to establish development priorities and cooperation mechanisms.
As UN Resident Coordinator in China, I am pleased to present this brochure on behalf of the whole UN Country Team. It provides an overview of the UN contribution to China’s development since its arrival 30 years ago. Looking at these achievements encourages us to continue our efforts to create a more sustainable and people-centered Xiaokang society.
Khalid Malik
UN Resident Coordinator
