Climate change, inequality, and sustainable development

Beijing, 2 November 2021 – The United Nations in China and the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) co-hosted a symposium to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the UN today in Beijing.

This year marks 50 years since the General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, deciding to “restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China in the United Nations.”

“In the decades since, China has become an increasingly important contributor to the work of the Organization and a major pillar of international cooperation,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the occasion.

Since the introduction of reform and opening-up in 1978, China has experienced remarkable economic and social transformations, rising to become the world’s second-largest economy and an upper-middle-income country over just four decades.

With China and the world now striving to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and “build back better” in the Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs, leading experts from government, international organizations, think tanks, and academia met today to discuss the road ahead.

Participants to the symposium took part in two roundtable discussions entitled “Towards a new development model for common prosperity” and “Towards 2030 and 2060: sustainable development and climate”.

“The UN has been a trusted development partner of China, with the first UN office in China opened back in 1979. In the four decades following that year, the role of the UN in China has shifted from that of a traditional donor to that of a partner providing technical expertise and support, both within and beyond its national boundaries, including in its activities under the framework of South-South Cooperation,” said UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee in his opening remarks at the symposium.

“As we celebrate the great progress achieved, we also need to focus on the big challenges ahead. Climate change poses an existentialist threat to humanity and inequality threatens progress towards the SDGs.”

Topics covered during these roundtable discussions also included the importance of rural development, childhood development, and biodiversity, and the role of public-private partnerships and international development cooperation, with a particular focus on the China-Africa relationship.

“50 years in, amid constant changes and shifts in the global context, China’s participation to the UN system has made significant advancements; improved its status in the international community; contributed to global unity and initiatives with resilience. It has been a story of changemaking,” said President of CCG Wang Huiyao.

“Facing unprecedented changes and challenges in today’s world owing to the pandemic, climate change, widening inequalities, the rise of populism and deglobalization, the reinvigoration of multilateralism is urgently needed. China and the UN are the forefront of this endeavour.”

Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Government of China on European Affairs

Rahamtalla Mohammed Osman, Ambassador of the African Union to China, Mamadou Ndiaye, Ambassador of Senegal to China

Mamadou Ndiaye, Ambassador of Senegal to China

Tian Lin, Director-General of the International Department of the China International Development Cooperation Agency

The symposium also featured remarks from leading figures including Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Government of China on European Affairs, Rahamtalla Mohammed Osman, Ambassador of the African Union to China, Mamadou Ndiaye, Ambassador of Senegal to China and Tian Lin, Director-General of the International Department of the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

The UN in China and CCG wish to thank today’s participants for the constructive discussions, and both look forward to furthering cooperation in future on shared priorities.

CCG Books

● Published by Springer 

● Edited by Wang Huiyao and Alistair Michie 

More Information

This book brings together leading international scholars and policy-makers to explore the challenges and dilemmas of globalization and governance in an era increasingly defined by economic crises, widespread populism, retreating internationalism, and a looming cold war between the United States and China. It provides the diversity of views on those widely concerned topics such as global governance, climate change, global health, migration, S&T revolution, financial market, and sustainable development.

● Links：

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811653902

● Published by Springer 

● Edited by Wang Huiyao, President and Miao Lu, Vice President, Center for China and Globalization(CCG), Beijing, China 

More Information

The internationalization of Chinese enterprises is one of the most notable aspects of economic globalization in the 21st century. Despite the 2008 financial crisis and weak global outbound investment, under the “go global“ initiative, Chinese outbound investment has gone from strength to strength, while also diversifying in terms of investment modalities, destinations, and industries. However, growing anti-globalization sentiment in some countries has also created new challenges for Chinese firms expanding internationally.

Drawing on nearly 3000 data samples, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, this book presents unique insights into the features and patterns of Chinese enterprises’ globalization. The analysis provides a useful reference for enterprises that have already gone global and those that plan to. In particular, this book investigates challenges confronted by Chinese companies when doing business in foreign countries. It summarizes research covering three angles, namely: the current situation, causation analysis and corresponding solutions, and recommendations for firms, government agencies and other institutions.

This book provides a comprehensive overview to help readers to grasp the broad picture of the international expansion of Chinese enterprises. It has important reference value for enterprises to help devise foreign investment strategy, seize opportunities, and navigate challenges in the course of globalization.

● Links：

https://www.springer.com/cn/book/9789811546457

● Published by Edward Elgar 

● Edited by Wang Huiyao, President and Miao Lu, Vice President, Center for China and Globalization(CCG), Beijing, China 

More Information

An excellent guide for understanding the trends, challenges and opportunities facing China through globalization, this Handbook answers the pertinent questions regarding the globalization process and China’s influence on the world.

With contributions from leading experts and international researchers, each chapter covers key topics regarding China’s participation in globalization, including: China’s new role in global economic governance; outward direct investment; China’s soft power and the implications for foreign relations; global migration, diaspora and talent. An enriching range of case studies and extensive empirical research are used to explore the successes and failures of globalization in China, and to discuss the dilemmas facing decision makers in today’s globalized world. A major contribution to the field, this Handbook offers valuable insights to China’s often misunderstood globalization process.

An essential reference for academics and researchers looking for a go-to empirical resource, this Handbook provides scholars of economics, politics and East Asian studies with an exemplary selection of contemporary research on China and globalization.

● Links：

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/handbook-on-china-and-globalization

● Published by Springer

● Authors: Wang Huiyao, President and Miao Lu, Vice President, Center for China and Globalization(CCG), Beijing, China 

The first effort to address the gap regarding higher-end talent within the scholarly work on internal labor migration in China

Provides an essential overview of the major milestones in China’s talents attraction policies, as well as several recommendations to help further improve those policies

Investigates corresponding policies in Germany, Japan, and Singapore to serve as a basis for comparison

Provides a snapshot of first-hand reference material for relevant stakeholders involved in cooperation with China

More Information

This book offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date assessment of China’s domestic and international migration. Restructuring economic development requires large numbers of educated and skilled talents, but this effort comes at a time when the size of China’s domestic workforce is shrinking. In response, both national and regional governments in China have been keen to encourage overseas Chinese talents and professionals to return to the country. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has initiated a number of policies to attract international highly-skilled talents and enhance the country’s competitiveness, and some Chinese policies have started attracting foreign talents, who are coming to the country to work, and even to stay. Since Chinese policies, mechanisms, and administration efforts to attract and retain skilled domestic or overseas talents are helping to reshape China’s economy and are significantly affecting the cooperation on migration and talent mobility, these aspects, in addition to being of scholarly and research interest, hold considerable commercial potential.

● Links：

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811362552#aboutBook

Other CCG News: