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 website 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.

This framework identifies the following priority areas where the UN system can make the most difference:

• Promoting growth with equity, through social and economic policies
• Improving national capacity for social development, both inside and outside the government
• Better management of natural resources and energy efficiency, for environmental sustainability
• Combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases
• Strengthening China’s role in international cooperation and multilateralism.

Three principles that reflect the core values of the UN–equity, gender equality, and adherence to global norms and conventions–run through and shape the strategies that the UN Country Team will follow to achieve these outcomes.

In China, the UN Country Team works together as part of the UN Resident Coordinator System. While each agency has programs and projects in line with their respective mandates, the UN Country Team composed of all representatives of UN agencies in China is committed to ensure that these programs are mutually reinforcing and in a well coordinated manner provided optimal assistance to China. Under the UN Country Team, there are 6 UN theme groups plus 3 teams on operations, security and disaster management. These UN groups plan, manage and monitor the coordinated response to the key issues above. Each theme group has a core group of UN agencies as its main function, and works in partnership with government, bi-lateral and civil society who share their interests.

This section gives an outline of the UN Country Team’s priority areas for cooperation and how the UN system works with its partners in China.