This year marks the 50th birthday of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which was established to help developing nations industrialize after their seats doubled in the UN thanks to the progress of the decolonization movement. 

As a staunch partner and supporter of UNIDO, China has cooperated with the organization in a wide range of fields, including technology and intellectual property transfer, vocational training, construction of systems, trade and investment promotion, resource utilization, production and management of clean energy. These projects have all played significant roles in China's economic and social development.

UNIDO had offered a helpful hand to China in the early days of China’s reform and opening-up campaign. Back then, it was difficult for China to gain experience from other nations, especially Western countries, because of limited international cooperation.

Using its unique internalized network, UNIDO provided assistance to Chinese delegations for overseas studies in those days. Such studies played a key role for policymakers when making decisions on the establishment of special economic zones.

Nowadays, many developing countries hope to “replicate the success of China” while testing the waters in special economic zones and industrial parks.

Moreover, UNIDO also assisted China in fulfilling its obligations stipulated in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Minamata Convention on Mercury and other major multilateral environment agreements (MEAs).

The programs under these MEAs accelerated the transition of China's industries toward an environmentally friendly model. Up to now, the volume of ozone-depleting substances cut by China accounts for a surprising 55 percent of the world's total.

In September 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Summit adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Since then, cooperation between China and the UNIDO has entered a new era.

China's determination to achieve the SDGs has been verified by its 13th Five-Year Plan. In addition, the concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development proposed during the 5th Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in October will also help accelerate the nation's sustainable development.

UNIDO supports China's sustainable development plans, and hopes to play a significant role in the process. The organization will focus on an inclusive and sustainable industrial development strategy, shoring up China's efforts in realizing its Made in China 2025 initiative.

China made great contributions to the signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015. This year, China has held the presidency of the G20, vowing to help promote the industrialization and New Industrial Revolution of Africa and of the least developed countries. UNIDO has been and will always be supportive to China's efforts in this field. China is believed to be creating new opportunities for cooperation between itself and UNIDO.

(The author is the director general of UNIDO.)

(Source: People’s Daily)