BEIJING, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Development Programme today announced the pre-launch of its official account on WeChat, one of the largest social media platforms in the world with around 400 million users. This move reflects UNDP's aim to boost its social media presence in China, home to 1.15 billion mobile phone users and over 600 million active internet users.
The launch comes shortly before UNDP Administrator Helen Clark's eight-day official visit to China from 27 August to 3 September, during which she will officially launch the UNDP WeChat account and interact personally with the subscribers.
"I hope that the new UNDP WeChat account will be able to convey the latest news in development, and information about UNDP’s work," said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.
Starting today, WeChat users can join a Q&A session by submitting questions for the Administrator through the new account. A number of the questions will be forwarded to the Administrator and her answers will be shared on WeChat throughout her visit. The account will also be used to share regular updates over the course of the Administrator's visit.
During her visit the Administrator will meet with high-level government officials to discuss the cooperation between UNDP and China. The Administrator will launch the 2013 National Human Development Report -- Sustainable and Liveable Cities: Toward Ecological Civilization and Global Governance Report, visit projects in the Huairou District, suburban Beijing, and fly to Xinjiang to meet with state leaders and local government, and open the China-Eurasia Expo.
The Official UNDP WeChat account will be managed by the UNDP China office in Beijing and will share UNDP's work worldwide with its subscribers. WeChat users can follow the UNDP account by searching ID "undpchina".
