Chinese delegate urges G20 members to start implementing 2030 SDGs

China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and G20 Sherpa Li Baodong addresses United Nations General Assembly High-Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, April 21, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS -- China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and G20 Sherpa Li Baodong on Thursday urged all parties to start implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a comprehensive manner at a high-level thematic debate.

Li attended the United nations General Assembly High-Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and held dialogues on the preparatory process of G20 Hangzhou Summit with Group 77 and other stakeholders from Tuesday to Thursday.

In the thematic debate, Li pointed out that as the largest developing country, China always put development at the top of its agenda.

In September, President Xi Jinping made solemn commitments that China stands ready to work with other parties to contribute to the 2030 Agenda, he said.

"Currently, China has launched its implementation process and included it into China's mid-to-long-term national development program, which well aligns China's domestic efforts with the international development agenda," he added.

Li said that as the G20 presidency this year, China is actively promoting the G20 to contribute to the international development cooperation and the implementation of the 2030 agenda.

"The concept of development runs through the whole design of agenda and outcomes for the Hangzhou Summit, thus serving as an overarching theme in the preparatory work," he said.

In terms of development, the Hangzhou Summit will be marked with two "firsts," he said.

"It is the first time that the G20 will formulate an action plan on the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Upon China's initiative, the G20 is examining ways to support industrialization in Africa and LDCs (Least Developed Countries)."

"Meanwhile, under China's leadership, the G20 issued its first Presidency Statement on Climate Change, committing to signing the Paris Agreement on April 22 or thereafter, and bringing the Agreement into force as soon as possible."

Li said that China hopes, by hosting the Hangzhou Summit, to make joint efforts with other countries to implement the 2030 agenda and make progress on the path towards common prosperity and development.

In the dialogues with G77 and other stakeholders, Li introduced the theme, agenda and the preparatory process of the Hangzhou Summit.

He also emphasized that China was committed to working with other parties to promote development by encouraging innovation, improving governance, promoting trade and investment, and supporting inclusion and interconnectedness, which will benefit developing countries and their peoples at large.

All participants highly commended China's openness, transparency and inclusiveness in its preparations for the G20 Summit and warmly welcome its outreach efforts to listen to the voice of developing countries.

They expressed their willingness to fully support China's work and looked forward to a fruitful Hangzhou Summit.