CRI听力:UN General Assembly explores sustainability, refugee crisis

President of the 71st General Assembly, Fijian diplomat Peter Thomson, has opened this year's session after taking oath.

World leaders are attending this year's sessions are expected to use the opportunity to further map out how to realize the UN's wide-ranging 2030 sustainable development agenda.

"But make no mistake, the great majority of humankind has yet to learn of the agenda. It has yet to embrace the 17 sustainable development goals, which if successfully implemented, will bring an end to poverty and secure sustainable place for humanity on this planet. It is for this reason that the theme of the 71st session is 'the Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World.'"

The Sustainable Development Goals, first agreed to last year, are a 17-point guideline designed to tackle social and development issues, ranging from poverty alleviation to gender equality.

The Chinese delegation to this year's General Assembly has announced it will unveil its Country Program on the Implementation of the Agenda during the general debate this month.

Hong Pingfan, Head of Development Policy and Analysis for UN development issues, says China's development strategies, including the Road and Belt Initiative, fit in well with the UN's new agenda.

"The Road and Belt Initiative is in line with the SDGs in principle, although the two do not cover exactly the same things. Both documents promise to honor the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, as well as emphasize inclusive development and common prosperity."

Another centerpiece of this year's General Assembly is a one-day summit on the refugee situation, which will try to encourage the international community to develop a more coordinated approach to the problem.

Outgoing UN chief Ban Ki-moon is urging member states to take the steps needed to create tangible results at next week's summit.

"You've reached early agreement on the outcome of the high-level plenary meeting on refugees and migrants. That will be held this coming Monday. This must now lead to greater compassion, solidarity and global sharing of responsibility."

According to UN figures, over 65 million people around the globe were displaced at the end of last year.

This is the highest numbers seen since World War II.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the one-day summit, the US plans to pass around the hat in a fundraising session.

Apart from development strategies and refugees, the UN Security Council is also set to hold a high-level meeting on Syria this month.