The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has operated in China for more than three decades, developing a deep level of trust with the Chinese government and understanding of the Chinese society. As China has developed economically, politically and culturally, the country has also developed in its global role.

China has become one of the largest South-South cooperation (SSC) providers, and is increasingly an influential and constructive voice in global forums such as climate change and trade negotiations.

Over the past five years, UNDP has provided support related to China’s global cooperation in five focus areas:

A. China’s South-South Dialogue and Foreign Aid Work

B. Trilateral Cooperation

C. Sustainable Businesses Abroad

D. Global and Regional Cooperation

E. Climate Change

In all of these areas, UNDP China’s strategy has been aligned with China’s priorities and UNDP’s Strategic Plan. UNDP has been working with China along the key development cooperation principles of country ownership (especially mutual respect, equality and demand-driven interventions), as well as transparency, focus on results and inclusivity. UNDP has used innovative models for joint projects and financial or in-kind support from those partners.

In 2015 UNDP strengthened its position as key partner and knowledge hub within and outside China on South-South and global cooperation-related issues.

During 2015, working with a wide range of partners, the UNDP China office:

-Highlighted a new “bottom-up” method of understanding Chinese development cooperation flows;

-Carried out and analyzed the largest survey ever of Chinese firms operating overseas and their impact on sustainability;

-Initiated new practical “trilateral” cooperation projects in African countries with China;

-Provided recommendations for a development focused G20 Presidency by China – now in action!

-Compared China’s and African countries’ experiences of Special Economic Zones to support sustainable industrialization in Africa;

-Brought Chinese partners, the diplomatic community, high-level personalities, experts and UN agencies together (including under the UN China in the World Theme Group) for dialogue, experience sharing and networking on a wide range of topics – from development finance in Africa to the Belt and Road Initiative.