CRI听力:China promises to end poverty by 2020

Premier Li Keqiang has made the comments while chairing the symposium on sustainable development at the UN General Assembly.

"The foundation of sustainable development is development. The core of development is growth, because without development and growth, all other things will lose their foundation. But on the other hand, the development we are taking about should be sustainable, which is the kind of coordinated development of economy and society as well as the harmonious coexistence of the human being and environment. Besides, the development we are talking about should be open, interconnected and inclusive. In this sense, sustainable development is a global endeavor."

The UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has a total of 17 goals for the world to achieve by 2030, including targets for economic development, poverty alleviation, gender equality and environmental protection.

Providing insight to the UN about what China is doing to achieve the development targets, Li Keqiang says the Chinese government has adopted its own Program on the Implementation of the Agenda.

The Chinese Premier says one key aspect of the national program is to eradicate poverty in China in the next 4-years.

"We have high hopes that we are capable of eradicating poverty based on current standards in China by the year of 2020, so as to meet the targets when it comes to poverty and hunger eradication, women and children's health as well as affordable housing. By 2030, we hope we will be getting close to the standard of developed countries."

The Chinese Premier has pledged to add 100 million US dollars to UN development projects in the coming 5-years.

He's also promised close to 20-million US dollars in charitable donations over the next 3-years for international foundations which are fighting against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he appreciates the active leadership role the Chinese government is taking to promote sustainable development.

"Under the Chinese presidency, G20 leaders' summit in Hangzhou have aligned their work program with the 2030 agenda. In the all total eleven G20 summits, this was the first time that sustainable development agenda was taken as a action agenda for G20. I appreciate Chinese leadership's vision."

Li Keqiang is also due to address the UN General Assembly later this week.

From New York, he's due to travel to Ottawa for an official visit to Canada, before flying to Cuba to meet with that country's leaders.