(File photo)

"Sustainable development goals reflected in the form of a UN file is of profound historic significance. This is the first time in human history to put the concept of sustainable development into practice with specific content of 17 categories and 169 items." Wu Hongbo, UN deputy secretary general for economic and social affairs, told People's Daily in an exclusive interview.

Against the backdrop of upcoming UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York on the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Wu Hongbo noted that despite of the different history, culture and ideology of each country, all humans have a common appeal to protect the earth and promote sustainable development.

He noted that compared with Millennium Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has certain unique characteristics. Firstly, the people making the agenda are expanded. The making of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global action involving not only all 193 members of the United Nations, but also different sectors of the society.

Secondly, applicable targets are expanded. As Millennium Development Goals, which only has 8 categories, is specifically aimed at poor and less developed countries, Sustainable Development Goals is enriched to 17 categories and is open to all UN member states.

Thirdly, the concept of development is updated. After 15 years of practice, the international community has reached a consensus on the problem of "what is a sustainable development" and established sustainable development concept of economic development, social progress and environmental improvement.

Lastly, the new agenda makes up the deficiencies. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development review and conclude the related work in the past year and make up for the content not involved in Millennium Development Goals, such as how to raise funds

In order to carry out the sustainable development goals, Wu Hongbo pointed that people need to set up the concept of sustainable development and change the unsustainable way of consumption and production. He also stressed that government departments at all levels should set up the holistic view of development and strengthen overall coordination. All the countries should put in place mechanisms of implement and tracking in terms of the sustainable development goals. The sustainable development goals are difficult to achieve without tracking and checking the implementation.