F REIGN TRADE - 中国国际贸易促进委员会

Regional Trade & InvestmentBy Zhu ZijunLOCALHelen Clark and Wen JiabaoUNDP Chief Values China’sSustainable Developmenttainable development, Wen was quoted assaying by Xinhua News Agency, addingChina is ready to strengthen exchanges andcooperation with the UNDP.“China has enjoyed a period of tremendousgrowth and has learned many lessonsalong the way,” said Clark.“It is important that we work togetherto share these experiences in a way that ismost beneficial to developing countries, andI have been encouraged by China’s willingnessand commitment to do so,” she added.Clark also met with Xie Zhenhua,Vice-Chairman of the National Developmentand Reform Commission (NDRC),in order to gain a better understanding ofhow UNDP can help promote balancedsocio-economic development in China.Later, she attended the launch of theChina-India Country Study on Low CarbonDevelopment, a joint initiative thatbrings the National Development and ReformCommission of China and the Energyand Resource Institute of India (TERI)together to examine existing barriers andsolutions to promoting low carbon developmenton a global scale.In her other engagements, Clarkheld discussions with Wan Gang, Ministerof Science and Technology, on South-South Cooperation for poverty alleviationChina had made great achievementsin sustainable development,and China’s experiencecan be shared with otherdeveloping countries, said Helen Clark,Administrator of the United NationsDevelopment Program (UNDP).She made the remarks during herfour-day official visit to China fromMay 16. Clark met with Premier WenJiabao to discuss the vital role that Chinawill play in determining the successof the sustainable development agenda,as well as UNDP’s strengthened partnershipwith China.Earlier in 2010, Clark signed anagreement with Premier Wen whichsignaled out further strengtheningSouth-South Cooperation and sharingChina’s development experiences as oneof her key priorities as UNDP Administrator.China has outlined plans to cut itscarbon intensity by 40- 45 percent by2020 and enhance its natural resourcesmanagement.However, China still has a longway to go in realizing modernization.China will continue to open up to theworld, conduct reforms and promotecomprehensive, coordinated and susthroughtechnology exchanges andthe development of a green economy;and with Li Liguo, Minister ofCivil Affairs, to discuss China’s experienceof and expertise in disasterrisk management and sharing withother developing countries.During her visit, Clark alsoattended an event to promote a newUNDP initiative aimed at encouragingthe private sector to enhancetheir Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) profiles, as well as integratingthe three pillars of sustainabledevelopment – economic, socialand environmental – within theirbusiness operations.“To succeed in the 21st century,businesses must pursue a ‘triplebottom-line approach’, namely,businesses must see the economic,social and environmental dimensionsof their operating costs,” Clarksaid in her speech.At this event, UNDP announceda new mechanismdesigned to assist Chinese enterprisesin enhancing their ability toperform CSR by facilitating theexchange of successful experienceswith other developing countries underthe framework of South-SouthCooperation. Amid China’s growingoverseas business interests, thisinitiative will pilot “pre-departure”CSR training for Chinese companiesintending to invest in otherdeveloping countries.Clark also interacted with themembers of media and the public.For the first time, she engaged in amicroblog (weibo) chat with the onlinecommunity in China, sharingher thoughts on sustainable developmentand the future she envisionsover the next 20 years.It is the fourth time Clark hasvisited China since her appointmentas UNDP Administrator in 2009.She previously served as New Zealand’sprime minister for three termsfrom 1998 to 2008.As China prepares to engagewith the world at the Rio+20 Conferenceon Sustainable Developmentin June, Clark’s visit signalsthe importance she attaches toChina.62