Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

OVER 300 representatives from domestic and foreign institutions, enterprises and trade associations, as well as renowned experts and scholars, gathered yesterday to conduct in-depth discussions on the theory, practice and international cooperation in sustainable development in Shenzhen.

Organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and titled “Forum on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Shenzhen•China),” the forum centered around the theme of insisting on innovation as the driver of sustainable development.

The event not only aimed at deepening global collaboration and discussing the theoretical and practical issues in the field of sustainable development, but also emphasized summarizing and sharing Shenzhen’s experience in exploring sustainable development with the international community.

Agis Veres, representative of the United Nations Development Program, gave a keynote speech at the forum.

“China is an active player in the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and is the first country with a detailed plan to meet the agenda,” said Veres at the forum.

“And Shenzhen is a good example for cities not only in China, but also others in the international community in pursuing sustainable development,” Veres added.

The sustainable development agenda was adopted by 193 U.N. member states at the U.N. Sustainable Development Summit at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

China released its national plan for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on Sept. 19, 2016.

The ambitious agenda, comprising 17 goals, serves as the launching pad for action by the international community and by national governments to promote shared prosperity and well-being for all until 2030.

The forum also released a report on the comprehensive evaluation system of sustainable development in Shenzhen and unveiled the establishment of the Shenzhen Institute of Sustainable Development.

According to the report, the overall level of sustainable development in Shenzhen has surpassed the average level of mega-cities, especially in terms of innovation capacity, resource utilization efficiency and environmental quality.

In cooperation with Southern University of Science and Technology, the Shenzhen Institute of Sustainable Development will partner with international organizations, think tanks, universities and research institutes to provide support for shaping Shenzhen into a model demonstration zone for sustainable development.

The State Council approved Shenzhen to build a national demonstration zone for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on Feb. 13, 2018.