On 16 Sept 2020, China Media Group (CMG) hosted the "Forum on UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals & China's Experience on Poverty Reduction." A total of 140 representatives from 39 countries and regions shared their views on the unprecedented success of China's anti-poverty efforts and explored ways to facilitate the global pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Linxiu Zhang, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), was invited to participate in the discussions in the forum.

Participants agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic is a major crisis facing all humanity. The pandemic is also seen as the most urgent challenge in the global cause of poverty reduction. In the face of global crises, people have become increasingly aware that the international community should adhere to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, stick to multilateralism, intensify international cooperation, safeguard the global healthcare system and jointly protect people's right to life and health.

Director Linxiu Zhang stressed that the improvement of human capital, especially early childhood development, is crucial to the eradication of poverty and the prevention of intergenerational transmission of poverty. She pointed out that poverty eradication, as the first goal of SDGs, is interconnected with all the other 16 goals. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the application of nexus approach. She said that the COVID-19 poses a great challenge to the sustainable livelihoods of the environment-economic vulnerable areas, and therefore the relationship between the protection of the nature and economic development needs to be balanced. This also reflects the importance and urgency of "Natural-Based Solutions".

The forum was co-hosted by CGTN Think Tank, Carter Center, Schiller Institute, Bridge Tank, ChinaEU, South African Institute of International Affairs, Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, and Russian-Chinese Analytical Center.

  • To watch the full CGTN video of the Forum, please click here.
  • To read the CGTN Press Release of the Forum, please click here.
  • To read the CGTN news on the Forum, please click here.