China key to new UN development goals

On Friday, just before the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly, member states adopted a new set of Sustainable Development Goals. President Xi Jinping joined more than 150 leaders from other countries at the UN Headquarters in New York to participate in this historic moment.

For readers not familiar with the SDGs, they will include 17 goals to measure progress on a range of economic, social and environmental issues. This is an evolution of the previous Millennium Development Goals which included eight goals. The SDGs represent an ambitious new development agenda that includes objectives such as eradicating poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring that people live in a peaceful and secure world. It is about giving everybody, wherever you are born, equal opportunity to live in dignity.

The SDGs also reflect the fact that development challenges are not unique to developing countries, but apply universally, including to rich countries. Issues of equality and inclusiveness are present in most countries, and some development challenges, such as climate change, don't recognize borders. As such, the SDGs are a truly global endeavor.