BEIJING, Sept. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- One year on from the historic launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a dynamic community convened at Peking University today to discuss solutions for the greatest challenges of our time at the 2016 China Social Good Summit, organized by Peking University and jointly supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This year's theme -- #2030NOW: Connecting Today, Creating Tomorrow -- challenged speakers, participants and a growing worldwide community to explore how technology, digital media and collaboration across borders can be leveraged to address the world's most important and longstanding issues, benefiting people everywhere and helping to build a better future for all.
"It's been a year since the spectacular launch of the Sustainable Development Goals and since then we have taken important first steps on the road to 2030. Now we need to turn the goals into action. We have 14 years left to turn these promises into reality and every year counts. Together we need to convince state leaders, businesses, media and citizens to do everything they can to achieve these goals," said Agi Veres, Country Director of UNDP China.
This lively and exciting summit brought together UN officials, government representatives, business leaders, celebrities, artists, NGO leaders, scholars and development professionals to share their visions on the future, exploring topics such as innovation, climate change, inequality, and sustainable human development. Amongst the unique mix of speakers were Shen Boyang, President of LinkedIn China; Li Junfeng, Director-General of National Centre for Climate Strategy; Lu Chuan, film director; Lao Lang, singer; Yuan Shanshan, actress, and many more.
"As one of the initiators of this year's China Social Good Summit, we have been really encouraged by the growing engagement in philanthropic causes in China. Building on that momentum, we hope more people can embrace the spirit of Impatient Optimism and work together so that everyone can lead a healthy, productive life, and play a part in achieving the SDGs," said Yinuo Li, China Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
During the event, UNDP proudly announced the names of their first global Animal Ambassadors for the Sustainable Development Goals, Qi Qi and Dian Dian. Qi means inspiration and Dian means enlightenment. Together, "Qidian" means the starting point of a new future: the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP's furry twin panda ambassadors were finally named on their 1st birthday after a year-long global naming campaign. Over 5,000 submissions came from 116 countries around the world to helpe name the panda cubs, and help raise awareness of the goals.
The Social Good Summit is a global event, hosted in over 100 countries, and examines the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world. Across the globe the summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders and grassroots activists to discuss solutions for the greatest challenges of our time. This is the sixth Social Good Summit to be held in China.
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19 Chinese celebrities have helped celebrate the SDGs one year with a video: http://v.qq.com/x/page/d0329o2okin.html?ptag=4_5
For more information about the Social Good Summit, please visit our website:
http://www.cn.undp.org/content/china/en/home/ourwork/our_campaigns/social-good-summit0/
About UNDP
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. www.undp.org
About Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that all lives have equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to reduce inequity around the globe. We fund new ideas to fight poverty, disease, and lack of access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. We develop and encourage innovative partnerships so shared resources and ideas will do the greatest good for the most people. Our vision is a world in which all people have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
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