The United Nations Development Programme and LeTV signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 in Beijing, to formalize a new strategic partnership that will allow both parties to work on a series of initiatives to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.

UNDP China Deputy Country Director Patrick Haverman and LeTV Cloud Computing Wu Yazhou sign the MoU on May 20 at the UN China headquarters in Beijing. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

It has been proposed that the partnership will also later be extended to projects that aim to reduce the urban-rural digital gap and promote clean energy, among other areas of possible future cooperation.

UNDP China Deputy Country Director Patrick Haverman noted that the partnership will facilitate the U.N. agency's work in China in that it provides "another important way" to share the U.N. agency's guidance with the Chinese government and the Chinese people. The UNDP has been functioning in China since 1979 and has evolved to integrate development with China's growth, Haverman said at the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the event, CEO of LeTV Cloud Computing Wu Yazhou affirmed that "LeTV Cloud will utilize its global network and development experience to provide UNDP with technical support in assisting developing countries."

The year 2015 is a milestone for the U.N. as it marks the 70th anniversary of the international agency's establishment, and a series of celebratory activities will be held worldwide to reflect on the U.N.'s achievements in attaining peace, ensuring human rights and fostering development. This year also sees the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals that have steered global development for the last fifteen years.

LeTV will join UNDP to mark the 70th anniversary of the U.N., celebrate 70 years of U.N. work and raise the profile of the organization's post-2014 agenda under the new deal.

Going forward, both sides will pool resources to contribute to sustainable development in China in areas including technological innovation, bridging the country's regional digital divide and promoting clean energy. More generally, the partners will also work to raise public awareness of the importance of development issues.

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