We will have time to reach the Millennium Development Goals – worldwide and in most, or even all, individual countries – but only if we break with business as usual.
We cannot win overnight. Success will require sustained action across the entire decade between now and the deadline. It takes time to train the teachers, nurses and engineers; to build the roads, schools and hospitals; to grow the small and large businesses able to create the jobs and income needed. So we must start now. And we must more than double global development assistance over the next few years. Nothing less will help to achieve the Goals.

Ban Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary-General

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 Member States adopted the Millennium Declaration which pledged to reach the eight Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education.
Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
Goal 4. Reduce child mortality.
Goal 5. Improve maternal health.
Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development.

The UN Country Team stands ready to join hands with the government and people of China to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

China’s Xiaokang development model and the MDGs are both “people-centred” and conceptually converge on the human-centred goals and objectives.

It is our firm belief and shared goal that the UNDAF (2006-2010) will respond to the demand and challenges of China’s development needs, particularly, it will contribute to China’s efforts in building a Xiaokang (all round, moderately prosperous) and harmonious society for all Chinese people and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Government of China puts the highest priority on promoting sustainable development and establishing a “harmonious socialist society”. This aim is expressed in terms of realising the Xiaokang by 2020.

At the Third Session of the Tenth National People’s Congress the Premier of the State Council, H.E. Wen Jiabao, underlined that the Government’s programme for 2005 lays the foundation of the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2006- 2010). In particular, he underscored the need for China to continue on the path of reform and opening up, to balance development, and to put the interest of the people first.

China has committed itself to achieving the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The UN system recognises its role and is committed to lend support to China in these efforts.

For more information, please access the following
websites:
http://www.millenniumcampaign.org
http://www.undg.org
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals