As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, a new CGTN documentary series titled "The UN at 80: China's Perspective" spotlights the nation’s evolving contributions to global sustainable development. The second episode, "Development Goals," delves into China’s environmental diplomacy and its alignment with UN initiatives.
The episode features a rare conversation between Wang Zhijia, former special advisor to the UN Deputy Secretary-General, and Qu Geping, China’s first permanent representative to the United Nations Environment Programme. Their discussion revisits the pivotal 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, where China began shaping its modern environmental policies.
"China’s journey from prioritizing industrial growth to embracing ecological balance mirrors global sustainability challenges," Wang noted during the exchange. The documentary highlights China’s current efforts, including large-scale afforestation projects and renewable energy investments, as models for developing economies.
Academics and policymakers will find insights into how cross-border collaboration, such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative green partnerships, supports UN Sustainable Development Goals. For diaspora communities, the episode underscores China’s growing influence in global environmental governance while maintaining cultural narratives about humanity’s relationship with nature.
