UNDP official commends China's vital role in advancing sustainable development for Global South

China, having made significant strides in green and sustainable development, is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the financing gaps for sustainable development in the Global South, according to a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) official.

Beate Trankmann, the UNDP Resident Representative in China, made these remarks in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) conducted during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which was held Wednesday to Friday.

Trankmann highlighted China's investment in renewable energy, noting that China sets a great example in demonstrating how to integrate emission reduction with biodiversity protection.

"I think China is showing quite remarkable progress in these areas. If you look at, for example, the investments in renewable energy that China has been making, this year alone, the first seven months, 126 gigawatts into solar of additional capacity [and] 29 gigawatts of additional capacity for wind power. China has a vital role to play and can also show how one can combine emission reduction with biodiversity protection," she said.

"Given that intact ecosystems are so important to absorb excess carbon, they act as carbon sinks. So as the UN and UNDP in particular, we work with China across all of these agendas. I think it's a very fruitful partnership," added Trankmann.

She also pointed out the financial challenges faced by many countries in the Global South, noting China's ability to help bridge these gaps.

"China has the ability to support also some of the financing gaps that we are seeing in a lot of the South-South countries. The debt burden in many countries is very high. There is not enough resources to go into sustainable development. So China and other countries can actually help to provide predictable, long term financing into the Sustainable Development Goals. And I think it's these types of platforms, international South-South cooperation that will help other countries that don't bring the scale, the expertise, the financial debts to also gain speed," she said.

Trankmann specifically praised the 10 partnership action plans proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the just-concluded FOCAC summit, describing them as a positive development amid constrained public financial resources.

These action plans cover areas including mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihood, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.

"The 10-action program (or) plan that the president put forward and that was negotiated through the summit conversation, reflects those needs and provides responses to those asks. And I thought it was very positive to also see finance and funding being put behind the plan, which is critical in a time where public resources are so constrained," Trankmann said.

The 2024 FOCAC summit is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the announcement of the 10 partnership action plans being one of its major outcomes.

UNDP official commends China's vital role in advancing sustainable development for Global South

Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.

Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.

In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.

"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.

"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.

"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.

Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.

The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.

Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai