UNDAF

It is accepted that economic growth is the foundation for future development. Sustained growth has resulted in dramatic improvements in the lives of people. China rapid integration in the world trading system is one of the phenomena of the early 21st century. The challenge now is to translate this growth into broad based sustainable development by making it more pro-poor, pro-environment and pro-women. Further, China's expanding share of the world economy creates opportunities for 'win-win' relationships with its trading partners and an increasingly active international role. China's role and participation in international norms, conventions and standards is likely to be decisive in shaping future global cooperation.

On the basis of the Xiaokang vision, the MDGs and the Millennium Declaration and the international instruments to which China is party, the UN system in China has identified the following priority areas where the United Nations system can provide some value added based on its comparative strengths: (a) promoting growth with equity by helping the government develop social and economic policies that 'operationalise' its Xiaokang vision; (b) stronger focus on social development through enhanced capacity and mechanisms for participatory co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation; (c) better management of its natural resources to ensure environmental sustainability; (d) reducing HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria infection and disease rates, and providing care and support for those already infected; and, (e) strengthening China's role and contribution to regional and international cooperation and to multilaterism generally.