BEIJING, April 1 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Vice Minister of Commerce Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, and UN Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Khalid Malik, today launched the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for China 2011-2015. The new UNDAF will provide the overall framework for the work of 24 UN Agencies in supporting China over the course of China's 12th Five Year Plan.
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The new UNDAF comes at a critical time. The period it covers represents the final five years before the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline in 2015. After world leaders collectively agreed on the all-important goals in 2000, what happens in the next five years will determine whether the targets are met.
Launching the UNDAF, Mr Malik said "This UNDAF provides a basis for the partnership between the UN in China and its national counterparts -- which marked its thirtieth anniversary in 2009 -- to move to a new level. By having a more strategic and focused approach, we are confident that the UN will be better able to serve the Government and people of China."
Representing the Government of China, Vice-Minister Yi said "in the last three decades China has undergone a remarkable transformation, which draws great attention from the international community. This tremendous growth attributed to the diligent Chinese people, but also to the UN System, the countries and individuals who have made their great contribution to China's development."
The UNDAF 2011-2015 reflects the agreement between Government and the UN to focus the UN-China partnership over the coming five years on three areas of work:
1: Ensuring environmental sustainability, addressing climate change, and
promoting a green, low carbon economy.
2: Ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable increasingly participate
in and benefit more equitably from China's social and economic
development.
3: Ensuring that China's enhanced participation in the global community
brings wider mutual benefits.
The UN's work over the next five years in these areas will take into consideration the national priorities of China and three UN cross-cutting approaches: gender equity, the role of civil society, and the human-oriented, rights-based approach.
The full UNDAF document is available online at http://www.un.org.cn .