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China
Voluntary National Review 2021

Watch video of panel where the VNR was presented

 

 

Main Message

Over the past five years, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has put people’s well-being front and center, followed a new vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, and taken comprehensive measures to implement the 2030 Agenda according to its national implementation plan that was among the first of the kind in the world, and through an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism made up of 45 ministries and agencies, integrating its implementation efforts with the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan and other medium-to-long-term development strategies. China has also actively participated in international development cooperation to promote global implementation endeavors. All these efforts have yielded remarkable results.

China has eradicated extreme poverty, and ensured food security. At the end of 2020, China won its fight against poverty as scheduled, ending poverty for the 98.99 million rural residents living below the current poverty line, and meeting the targets of SDG 1 ten years ahead of schedule. Building on these achievements, China is prioritizing the development of agriculture and rural areas, and implementing the rural revitalization strategy in a comprehensive manner. In 2020, China reaped bumper harvest in grain production for the 17th year in a row. The “rice bowl” of the Chinese people is tightly held in the hands of the Chinese themselves. 

China has actively taken climate actions, and contributed to global green development. Following the philosophy that lucid water and lush mountain are invaluable assets, China has accelerated the transition towards green development. China has won the three critical battles to keep its sky blue, water clear, and soil pollution-free and made remarkable headway in holistic protection and treatment of its mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grassland and deserts. China has firmly implemented the Paris Agreement and actively participated in global climate governance. Carbon intensity in China has accumulatively dropped by 18.8%. Clean energy now accounts for 23.4% of China’s energy mix. China leads the world in installed capacity and output of photovoltaic and wind power generation. China has scaled up its nationally determined contributions and aims to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, injecting strong impetus into global climate actions as well as green and low-carbon development worldwide. 

China has met the challenge of the pandemic with success and improved public health governance. Putting people and their lives above everything else, China has scored major strategic achievements in fighting COVID-19 and protected people’s rights to life and health. China has increased investment in public health infrastructure and woven the world’s largest social safety net with basic medical insurance covering more than 1.3 billion people.With upgraded public health services, Chinese people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and security is steadily increased.

China has registered steady economic growth and enhanced development resilience. China’s GDP has increased from less than 70 trillion yuan to over 100 trillion yuan. Steady progress has been made in infrastructure connectivity and sustainable transportation. Pandemic control goes hand in hand with economic and social development. A new development paradigm is forming with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. In 2020, China’s GDP grew by 2.3%, making China the only major world economy to grow.

China has shouldered its responsibilities as a major country and advanced international development cooperation. China champions mankind’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and strives to build a community of shared future for mankind. It has stepped up efforts to promote synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda, promoted the green BRI, deepened South-South cooperation, and helped other developing countries implement the 2030 Agenda to the best of its capability. China has provided assistance to more than 160 countries and international organizations in combating COVID-19, and donated and exported pandemic response supplies to over 200 countries and regions. China has joined the COVAX, provided or is providing vaccine assistance to more than 80 developing countries most in need, and exported vaccines to more than 40 countries, making its due contribution to the global fight against the pandemic.

China’s remarkable achievements in implementing the 2030 Agenda are attributable to the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, to the advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, to China’s comprehensive drive to deepen reforms and expand opening-up, and to the joint efforts of the people of all ethnic groups in China.

Likewise, the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda calls for strong political leadership, effective institutional guarantees, scientific and technological innovation, extensive social mobilization and pragmatic global partnership. The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda. China stands ready to work with other countries to consolidate political will, put development first, strengthen the means of implementation, take joint actions and address special difficulties of developing countries to leave no one and no country behind.

 

Voluntary National Review 2016
Executive Summary of China’s Actions on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In September 2015, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of China, attended the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit and joined other leaders in endorsing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, providing guidance to national development of member states and international development cooperation in the next 15 years.

As the largest developing countries in the world, China has always place development as the first priority. The 13th Five-Year Plan was reviewed and approved by the Fourth Session of the 12th National People’s Congress in March 2016, defining the development concept featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development. In the coming years, China will pursue innovative development and improve the quality and efficiency of development. Coordinated development will be promoted to form a balanced structure of development. China will pursue green development by promoting a green and low-carbon development model and lifestyle, protecting ecological system. It will make great efforts to deepen opening-up, thus realizing win-win cooperation. Shared development will be facilitated to improve people’s well being. China will seek coordinated development in the economic, political, cultural, social and ecological fields in order to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects as planned.

China attaches great importance to implementation of the 2030 Agenda and believes that the principles of Peaceful Development, Win-win Cooperation, Integration and Coordination, Inclusiveness and Openness, Sovereignty and Voluntary Action, as well as “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities”, should be followed in building a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, establishing all-round partnership, and achieving economic, social and environmental development in a balanced manner. Countries should be encouraged to formulate their domestic development strategies and take measures to implement the 2030 Agenda in accordance with national conditions and respective characteristics, while the means of implementation should be allowed to be differentiated, due to diversified national conditions and respective capabilities.

China suggests that 9 key areas should be prioritized in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. These areas are:

  • Eradicating poverty and hunger through targeted measures to alleviate and eliminate poverty, and enhancing agricultural production capacities and food security.
  • Implementing innovation-driven development strategies and generating momentum for sustainable, healthy and stable economic growth.
  • Advancing industrialization to inject impetus to coordinated development between urban and rural areas and among the three dimensions of sustainable development.
  • Improving social security and social services to ensure equal access to basic public services.
  • Safeguarding equity and social justice to improve people’s well-being and promoting all-round human development.
  • Protecting the environment and building protective barriers for eco-security.
  • Addressing climate change actively and integrating climate change response into national development strategies.
  • Promoting efficient utilization of resources and sustainable energy.
  • Improving national governance and ensuring economic and social development in line with the rule of law.

Implementing the 2030 Agenda is a systemic project. The international community needs to provide sound support from five dimensions including:

  • Strengthening capacity building of countries so as to improve institution building, increase public resources, and generate internal growth momentum.
  • Creating an enabling international environment for development, building a balanced, win-win and inclusive multilateral trading system and improving global economic governance.
  • Engaging with all stakeholders and working towards a more equitable and balanced global partnership for development.
  • Promoting coordination mechanism and incorporating development policy into global macroeconomic policy coordination.
  • Improving follow-up and review by conducting regular reviews of global implementation progress while review of national implementation would be done according to respective national conditions and the principle of voluntary action.

2016 is the first year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China has made great efforts in its implementation, linking the 2030 Agenda with domestic mid-and-long term development strategies. The domestic coordination mechanism for the implementation, comprised of 43 government departments, has been established to guarantee the implementation. Great efforts has been be made to publicize the 2030 Agenda nationwide in order to mobilize domestic resources, raise public awareness, and creating favorable social environment for the implementation. China will also strengthen inter-sector policy coordination, review and revise relevant laws and regulations to provide policy and legislative guarantee for the implementation. In the next 5 years, China is determined to lift all the 55.75 million rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty, and to double its GDP and people's per capita income of 2010. China has already released the Position Paper on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which reflects China’s views on the principles, priorities, policies and progress made in the implementation of the 2030 agenda. The position paper has been circulated as an UN General Assembly document to member states in April. China will also issue its national plan of implementing the 2030 Agenda this year and share its development experience with other countries.

As the G20 Presidency this year, China puts development issues at the heart of the G20 agenda, and lists Inclusive and Interconnected Development as one of the four key agenda items. With China’s efforts, G20 has placed the issue of development in a prominent position in its global macro policy framework for the first time, to optimize development policy coordination. It is the first time that G20 members has jointly drafted a collective action plan on the 2030 Agenda to inject political impetus into the global implementation progress on the 2030 Agenda. And it is also the first time that G20 has discussed the issues of Supporting Industrialization in Africa and Least Developed Countries to actively respond to demands of developing countries, especially African countries. China has also convened outreach dialogues with non-G20 countries and invited the largest numbers of development countries in G20 history to participate in all activities this year, to ensure that G20’s actions meet outside expectations.

As a responsible and large developing country, China will continue to actively take part in global development cooperation. It has provided support for more than 120 developing countries in achieving MDGs. In the future, China will deepen South-South cooperation to help other developing countries to implement the 2030 Agenda. China is currently implementing the measures announced by President Xi Jinping during his attendance at UN Summits Marking the 70th Anniversary, providing other developing countries with support in financing, technology and capacity building. China is making preparations for the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation, which will be put into operation as soon as possible. The Academy of South-South Cooperation and Development has been established and starts global enrollment in 2016, which will provide developing countries with opportunities for doctor’s degree and master’s degree education and short-term training. China has signed agreements on China-UN Peace and Development Fund with the UN and the fund will be put into operation in 2016 to finance projects concerning peace and development. China will carry forward the Belt and Road Initiative and promote the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank and other institutions to play greater roles with a view to making contribution to global development.

Looking ahead, China will shoulder the responsibility of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, follow a development path featuring mutual benefit, win-win results and common development, and work with all countries to build a better future of sustainable development for all mankind.
Focal point
Ms. Huang Weibo
Director, Environmental Management Division
Department of Regional Economy
National Development and Reform Commission
Beijing

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where China is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
Baoding, China- The world's first

A city of one million people about 100 miles southwest of Beijing, Baoding has ascended rapidly as a working urban model of China's transition to a clean energy economy. The city is considered to be the first "carbon positive" city in the world, largely due to local efforts along with additional national and international support. Source: Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century (2010) Baoding has undergone a transformation from a traditionally dirty textile and automobile manufacturing city to a central hub for renewable energy production and deployme...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Beijing Olympics 2008: An urban transformation

The 2008 Olympics represented a major way for China to signal the country's opening up policy. Alongside this important effort in public diplomacy, the Games catalyzed a major project of urban transformation and new infrastructure development in the capitol city. Most of the capital invested in the 2008 Olympics was in fact spent on infrastructure, which has helped shape and foster a greater environmental awareness among the public and was an opportunity to showcase China?s commitment to growing in an environmentally sustainable manner. Source: Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban D...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
China Neonatal Resuscitation Program

The China Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) aims to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity caused by preventable conditions, such as birth asphyxia, through ensuring at least one trained and skilled health worker is present at every hospital delivery. Objectives include:• Develop and implement nationwide cascade training: providing training to individuals who in turn provide the same training to others • Improve the quality of NRP training through cascade supervisions • Implement policy strategies that ensure sustainable NRP in 90% of delivery facilities• Evaluate and document NRP ...[more]

Partners
Partner Organizations • The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC, formerly known as Chinese Ministry of Health) • Johnson & Johnson Implementation Partner • National Center for Women and Children’s Health (NCWCH), Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Supporting Partners • Society of Peri-natal Medicine, Chinese Medical Association ...[more]
Sustainable Development Goals
China's National Climate Change Programme

National Climate Change Programme issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 2007 is the country's first global warming policy initiative. Source: According to China's National Climate Change Programme issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's first global warming policy initiative, the government will swiftly adopt measures ranging from laws, economy, administration and technology which will combine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and imbue the country with a flexible approach to climate change. The Program focuses on energy pro...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Develop Sustainable Ocean Economy

To further improve comprehensive strengthen and quality and benefits of Chinas ocean economy, make marine industry structure and layout more scientific, and further improve ability to regulate and control ocean economy and public service ability by 2020, we would like to take the following measures: promote transformation and upgrading of marine traditional industries like marine fishery and offshore oil and gas industry; fasten the development of newly emerging marine industry like marine equipment manufacture industry and marine renewable energy resources; improve the scale and level of mari...[more]

Partners
Relevant Stakeholders
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Enhance the International Marine Cooperation in Asia Pacific Region

To continue participate in the cooperation in blue economy, marine spatial planning and marine debris in Asia and Pacific region, we would like to take the following measures: compile the APEC Sustainable Development Report (the 2nd edition)based on the current work, encourage more countries and regions to participate in the blue economy demonstration projects, stock blue economy in Asia-Pacific region, host blue economy forum, strengthen capacity building in marine spatial planning and aquaculture, and encourage to propel relevant progress on marine debris.

Partners
Relevant Stakeholders
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Fuel Economy Standards

In 2004 the Chinese government issued first-ever national fuel economy standards for passenger cars. Source: UNEP, 2008, Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world The Chinese government issued its first compulsory standards for controlling vehicle consumption, the Limits of Fuel Consumption for Passenger Cars, in 2004, and the policy became effective in 2005. For each of 16 vehicle weight classes, it establishes fuel consumption limits (ranging from 7.2 liters per 100 kilometers (km) for the lightest passenger cars to 15.5 liters per 100 km for the heaviest). In 2008, ...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism is an organizational network of tourism stakeholders of the public and private sectors, non-profits, UN agencies and programmes, international organizations and academic institutions. Partner organizations share the common vision and understanding of the goal of "sustainable tourism" and collaborate internationally, regionally or nationally to transform tourism globally. The mission is to transform the way tourism is done worldwide by building partnerships to support the implementation of sustainable tourism practices at destinations through adop...[more]

Partners
United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia, the Government of France, Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Morocco, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Travel Foundation, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Green Jobs in China

The principal objective of the green jobs programme in China is to assist the country in realizing its potential for green jobs. Source: UNCSD Secretariat (2010) Questionnaire for the Member States on Experiences, Success Factors, Risks and Challenges with Regard to Objective and Themes of UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) The Green Jobs Initiative is a partnership established in 2007 between the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Trade Union Confederation. The International Organization of Employers joined in 2008...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Helping developing countries raise environmental protection capacities

At the UN meeting on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, China’s Premier Wen Jiabao announced that China will contribute US$6 million to a UNEP trust fund for projects and activities that help developing countries raise their capacity for environmental protection. (Statement made by Chinese Prime Minister Wen JIabao at the Rio + 20, UN meeting on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For more information, please click the lick: Premier Wen: China to contribute $6mln to UN Environmental trust fund).

Partners
China, UN Environmental Trust Fund
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Helping developing countries tackle climate change

At the UN meeting on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, China’s Premier Wen Jiabao announced that China will contribute US$6 million to a UNEP trust fund for projects and activities that help developing countries raise their capacity for environmental protection. He also promised that China will make available 200 million yuan ( US$31.7 million) for a three-year international project to help small island countries, least developed countries and African countries tackle climate change.(Statement made by Chinese Prime Minister Wen JIabao at the Rio + 20 Speech at t...[more]

Partners
China, UNEP
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
IHO Hydrography Capacity Building Programme for Coastal States

The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]

Partners
International Hydrographic Organization (IGO); 87 IHO Member States (Governments); International Maritime Organization (UN); World Meteorological Organization (UN); International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (NGO)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Improve the Ability on Marine Observation and Early-warning and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Capacities

To effectively improve marine disaster prevention capacities of China, we would like to take the following measures: build, upgrade and remould overseas observation stations (sites), build a series of ground wave radar and buoys; advance comprehensive assessment of regional marine forecast ability and application of pilot work of marine risk investigation on large coastal projects; conduct monitoring, research and impact assessment on sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and climate change; evaluate impacts of climate change and human activities on economy, society, environment and resources, ...[more]

Partners
Relevant stakeholders
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Marine cooperation in capacity building

To promote marine scientific cooperation with relevant government departments of small island developing countries and other state holders in the fields of marine environment and biodiversity protection, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, blue economy and other fields of common interests; To promote the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States by providing personnel training, technical assistant etc.

Partners
Relevant government departments of small island developing countries and other state holders, having signed MOU (interdepartmental) on Maritime Cooperation with Jamaica, Maldives and Mauritius.
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Strengthen Scientific and Technical Innovation and International Cooperation

To improve marine scientific and technical innovation ability, strengthen international cooperation and transfer of marine scientific and technical achievements, we would like to take the following measures: organize China Maritime Renewable Energy Annual Meeting, undertake the 5th Asian Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (AWTEC), and promote maritime energy innovation ability in Asia Pacific region; compile Catalogue of Chinas Marine Scientific and Technical Achievements and its Transfer, so as to guide and fasten international cooperation and transfer of maritime scientific and technical achie...[more]

Partners
Local governments
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Strengthen the Protection of Marine Ecological Environment

To preliminary control marine environmental pollution and gradually improve water quality in offshore areas, we would like to take the following measures: strictly control sea reclamation, strengthen supervision and enforcement, and reduce adverse impacts on marine ecosystem from pollution; fully control the discharge of pollutants and fasten the construction and reconstruction of sewage treatment facilities in urban areas, fully eliminate illegal sewage outlets; classify domestic waste and take effective actions to prevent the discharge of waste into sea; select more marine protected areas, e...[more]

Partners
Local governments
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Planning toward 2030

UNESCO Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] is responsible to the national authority, i.e., UNESCO CN. In China, UNESCO matter is assigned by the State to its Ministry of Education (MoE) whereas the Peking University is appointed an Academic Adviser. A UNESCO Category 2 Institute called HIESD is established for the purpose of Education on Sustainable Development (ESD). In Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] UNESCO Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] was registered as a Charity. In 2017, UNESCO HK [Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of...[more]

Partners
United Nations Educational, Scientific & Culture Organization Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] Association, World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners, Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region of China] Institute of Education for Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Goals
Transforming Shanghai: World Expo 2010

Between May 1st and October 31st 2010 the city of Shanghai hosted the World Expo 2010. This event became one of the most successful Expos for a number of reasons: the timing, the place, the contents and the ability to foster models for future urban development. From a purely quantitative perspective, Expo 2010 featured the largest site, a record number of participants and visitors and an unprecedented events and forums programme. The 5.28 square kilometres site, located at the heart of the city and stretching along the banks of the Huangpu River, was a massive urban regeneration project aimed...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Twelfth Five Year Plan

China's Twelfth Five Year Plan (2011-2015) is China's first national plan to shift the development agenda decisively toward a pattern of green growth. Source: China's Twelfth Five-Year Plan period is crucial for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and for deepening reform and opening up and speeding up the transformation of the pattern of economic development. The key targets of the Plan are the following: Economic targets: GDP to grow by 7 percent annually on average; More than 45 million jobs to be created in urban areas; Urban registered unemployment to be kept no...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
US & Timor-Leste & China Trilateral Partnership

Traditional agriculture practices in Timor-Leste result in poor soil and water management and low productivity. This Trilateral partnership trains farmers both on modern cultivation methods and cultivation of crops that reduce erosion and increase replenishment of nutrients in the soil. In addition, the crops selected help farmers diversify their sources of income.This partnership will contribute to the sustainable development of SIDS by demonstrating opportunities for increasing farmer incomes while improving natural resource management through cultivation of cash and staple crops. The model ...[more]

Partners
USAID/Timor-Leste Government of Timor-Leste, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Government of the People's Republic of China
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Statements
13 Jul 2017
1 Jun 2017
19 Jul 2016
20 Jun 2012
20 Jun 2012
13 May 2011
12 May 2011
11 May 2011
6 May 2010
5 May 2010
5 May 2010
5 May 2010
4 May 2010
14 May 2008
14 May 2008
14 May 2008
13 May 2008
12 May 2008
12 May 2008
12 May 2008
9 May 2008
8 May 2008
9 May 2007
3 May 2006
1 May 2006
21 Apr 2005
28 Apr 2004
19 Apr 2004
3 Sep 2002
United Nations