In 2004, the UN system in China celebrated the 25th anniversary of UN work and presence in China. It was a time to look back proudly over past successes and to reflect on the challenges that lie ahead. It was also an opportunity to rethink directions that the UN system follows in China. This booklet describes common goals, priorities and approaches that shape the work of the UN Country Team.
In the last few years, China has increasingly shown its keenness to raise its international profile in peacekeeping and development. It has also taken bold steps towards dealing with some of the less-visible but rising social and economic costs of its rapid economic development. China has set to quadruple its year 2000 level gross domestic product by 2020. It aims to do so in the context of a Xiaokang society – harmonious, moderately prosperous, equitable, where social and economic,environmental and human interests are balanced, and the benefits of development are enjoyed by all.
The Xiaokang development vision provides an unprecedented opportunity for UN cooperation in China. In recent years, links between the UN system and the Chinese Government have become ever stronger. The UN Country Team contributed to the formulation of the 11th national Five-Year Plan (2006–10), to advance social development and move closer to the Xiaokang goal.
In 2005, the UN Country Team adopted a common framework for cooperation in China, the new UN Development Assistance Framework for 2006–10. This was the product of close collaboration between the Government and the UN Country Team, and drew on the findings of a Common Country Assessment and other recent research studies carried out by the UN system and the Government.
