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Both the Chinese government and the United Nations have expressed satisfaction that China has achieved many of the targets in the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule.

Li Baodong, deputy foreign minister of China speaks at the launch of Report on China's Implementation of the MDGs (2000-2015) in Beijing on Friday, July 24, 2015. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN System in China jointly launched the Report on China's Implementation of the MDGs (2000-2015) in Beijing on Friday, July 24, 2015, as the deadline for MDGs approaches and before the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, likely to be named the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the upcoming September.

The report was the sixth and last MDGs report published by China; the previous five reports were published in 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2013. It provided a comprehensive conclusion of China's development experiences and practices over the past 15 years, with a preview of China's development in the future.

The report said that China has seen "unprecedented transformational results" in accomplishing the vision set out in 2000 by world leaders in New York.

The MDGs mandated the 189 participatory nations to "spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing condition of extreme poverty" and were outlined in eight specific goals.

According to the report, highlights of China's progress in the past 15 years include lifting over 439 million people out of poverty between 1990 and 2011, reducing the under-five mortality rate by at least two thirds, cutting the maternal mortality rate by three quarters, halving the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, and actively engaging in South-South cooperation and providing help to more than 120 developing countries in their efforts to attain the MDGs.

In his video message to the launch ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the formulation of the MDGs at the turn of the century brought progress and hope to hundreds of millions of people in poverty, since implementing the MDGs has helped "reject conflict, backwardness and confrontation in favor of peace, development and cooperation."

"Over the past 15 years, China, a major responsible developing country, has honored its commitment with a strong determination and made notable achievements in poverty reduction, public health and education. Meanwhile, China has done whatever it could to help other developing countries to attain the MDGs," said Wang Yi.

The Foreign Minister added that China will follow a path of peaceful and green development through reform and innovation in the post-2015 development agenda.

From 2000 to 2014, China has climbed up the global economic ranking from sixth to second place. Its per capita GDP increased from US$955 to US$7,595. The population who lived under the poverty line dropped from 689 million in 1990 to 250 million, according to data from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong reiterated China's firm commitment to the new global development agenda towards 2030, saying "China will integrate its ambitious goals of comprehensively deepening reform and completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects with implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda."

Li said that China will stick to "shared but differentiated responsibility" of development in the post-2015 era, and that is willing to provide more development opportunities to fellow developing countries under the framework of the United Nations.

Helen Clark, the Administrator of UN Development Programme (UNDP) also sent her congratulations to China for "achieving many of the MDG targets ahead of schedule which has greatly contributed to the overall global performance on the MDGs."

She stated that "the publication of this report is a testament to the Chinese government's hard work while also signifying the importance that it attaches to sharing the country's experience with the rest of the world."

Speaking at the launch of the report, UN Resident Coordinator in China Alain Noudehou commended the achievements and the cooperation that bore them. He remarked that "the UN System in China is proud to have supported and witnessed China's transformation over the past decades and very much looks forward to continuing to strengthen this partnership with the government as we move to the Post-2015 Development Agenda."

He added the post-2015 development priorities are "well in line" with China's domestic development agenda – the Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development.

The Report on China's Implementation of the MDGs (2000-2015) follows the UN's global MDGs final assessment report released on July 6. UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon stated on that occasion that "the global efforts to achieve the Goals have saved millions of lives and improved conditions for millions more around the world."

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