RCAR 2006 - Comoros

China’s growth is making it an ever-bigger player in the world market for resources. China now uses 40% of the world’s steel, 30% of its coal, and 25% of its aluminium and copper. It is already the world’s second biggest oil consumer. All of this will further increase China’s environmental footprint. Current plans call for the opening of new (mostly coal-fired) power stations each week. Some predict that by 2010 China will emit more CO2 than the United States.

2006 was also a year of increasingly confident Chinese diplomatic presence on the world stage. The world has looked to China to help resolve tensions, not least in the DPRK Six Party Talks. But China has also reached out to the world. The culmination of this was the China-Africa Summit in November, which was attended by over 40 African Heads of State and Government and saw agreements on further strengthening China-Africa aid, trade and co-operation.

Strong economic growth has raised expectations for improved living standards. While per capita GDP in current US$ is nearing $2000, widening gaps between urban and rural areas (urban per capita GDP is 3.4 times higher than rural), and between coastal and inland areas, and gender gaps (the birth ratio is now 118 boys to 100 girls) are receiving increasing attention. Reductions in extreme poverty have slowed, after extraordinary achievements in the 1980s and 1990s, with 26 million people still below the relatively low official poverty line. Most of them are in remote rural areas, and lack access to many basic public services. A large proportion of the broader population meanwhile remains vulnerable to poverty.

High profile new programmes to achieve a ‘Harmonious Society’ reflect the government’s increased emphasis on better sharing the benefits of growth. These initiatives are part of the overall vision of a ‘Xiaokang’ society by 2020 – a moderately prosperous and equitable society following a sustainable and balanced growth path. The upcoming 17th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is expected to set out a concrete agenda for achievement of these vital goals.

Summary on progress towards UNDAF outcomes

Outcome Area 1: Social and economic policies are developed and improved to be more scientifically-based and human-centered for sustainable and equitable growth

The UNCT’s strong relationship with government has enabled us to bring international expertise to the heart of China’s policymaking process. The National Human Development Report on Development with Equity –produced by a team of eminent national authors – was launched early in the year, and has been well received and widely discussed in government.

A key challenge is to increase the share of government resources targeted at the poor. Following Premier Wen Jiabao’s speech to the National People’s Congress in March, the UN supported the first Annual Pro-Poor Fiscal Reform Forum. And, later in the year, reports were produced on China’s financing of education and health services for children and on health, poverty and economic development. But poverty in China also affects the millions of migrant workers, and those not adequately supported by social security. Last year, we agreed terms of reference for a joint programme on migration, detailed formulation of which is beginning. And on social security, we supported a major cross-government policy conference.

The UN’s ability to work in sensitive areas is one of our key comparative advantages. Preparatory work began to yield results in 2006 in land reform, civil society, and safety at work (a big issue in China, where over one million are killed or injured each year). On land reform, new programmes have been designed to protect farmers’ land rights and to test methodology for a national policy on rural land registration and certification. On civil society, the UN supported the revision of regulations on registration and management and formulated a programme on the rule of law and civil society development. And on work safety, the first five-year national programme was issued by the State Council, and the ratification of the Convention on Occupational Safety and Health was approved. On the environment, we have for example been supporting the development and enforcement of national policy for phasing out ozone depleting substances and adopting cleaner agricultural and industrial technologies.

An overall challenge here is to improve the data available for pro-poor policy making. The Country Team has been formulating new joint work in this regard, and has already developed a proposal for a new national social statistics database. Tackling gender inequalities is a key cross-cutting priority, but also a particular focus under Outcome Area 1. The Country Team supported a government and civil society round table in the CEDAW reporting process, and began planning to assist the government’s implementation of CEDAW recommendations. In 2006 we also supported the gender and public administration training of over 5,000 decision makers in the Central Party School and the introduction therein of a compulsory course for graduate students, and supported an International Forum of Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs.

Outcome Area 2: Effective policy implementation is promoted through enhanced capacity and mechanisms for participation, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation in the social sectors

The environment for policy implementation in the health sector in China was very favourable in 2006. The government publicly announced its commitment to health, including essential health of the poor and vulnerable, and recognized that increasing access to public health remains a major challenge. During 2006, the Country Team had two areas of focus. On the first, access to health services, the UN provided expert advice to senior policymakers, co-sponsored a high-level conference with Prof. Amartya Sen on health, equity and development, advised the State Council on food safety and briefed the National People’s Congress on access to health for all, and delivered several influential health policy reports. We also worked with government prior to a decision by the State Council on the reform of family planning in December. Meanwhile, following a joint mother and child health (MCH) review, a new MCH package was launched across 13 provinces, and an improving routine immunization programme was launched in four provinces. On the second area of focus, public health safety, the UN supported a national action plan for injury prevention and a national strategy on non-communicable disease prevention, organized workshops on pesticide poisoning, drowning, and tobacco control in Olympic cities, and delivered a report on strengthening food safety management. Tackling avian influenza has also been a high priority. We carried out an assessment of pandemic preparedness in China in January, and we are continuing to work intensively with the government. A UN pandemic preparedness plan for China has also been prepared.

On education, the Country Team began working around four key focus areas in 2006: migrant children, gender, data and statistics, and lifelong learning and life/livelihood skills. The UN also co-organized a seminar on rural girls’ education in March 2006 and the 3rd National Education for All Forum in December 2006. We also organized a lecture on educational data and indicators in May 2006 and are in consultation with government on improvements.

Outcome Area 3: More efficient management of natural resources and development of environmentally friendly behaviour in order to ensure environmental sustainability (with special focus on energy, biodiversity and water resources).

The Country Team’s work has encompassed environmental awareness and governance, biodiversity, renewable energy and environmental health. On environmental awareness and behaviour change, a new China Environment Awareness Program was launched in 2006. On environmental governance, a UN Country Team policy note has been developed to help identify the key challenges and to find ways of building capacity to address them.

On biodiversity, the China Biodiversity Partnership Framework (CBPF) has been launched, with the strong involvement of eleven Ministries. It is the first large joint UN GEF biodiversity programme in China. On renewable energy, with UN support, a new law entered into force in 2006 with increased focus on market based approaches and investment into green technologies. And on environmental health, there is strong government interest. The government has decided to prepare and implement a National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP), and planning is now underway for UN support to this.

Outcome Area 3 also encompasses our work on Disaster Risk Management, on which a joint project was agreed in June 2006. Under this, the UN and the China National Committee for Disaster Reduction will support the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan on Disaster Reduction. Separately, in October 2006, the UN and government co-organised a Tsunami Emergency Relief Review Session to examine the results achieved from China’s contribution of USD19.5 million to the UN’s Indian Ocean tsunami response. We subsequently produced a report outlining the lessons learned of relevance to any future multilateral Chinese assistance.

Outcome Area 4: HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria infection and disease rates are reduced, care and support for those infected improved and the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS protected

Supported by the Country Team, the National Five Year Plan for the control of AIDS in China (2006-2010) was developed and launched. The plan has ambitious targets in AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. These fit well with the global roadmap for universal access by 2010. Also in January, the National AIDS Regulations were issued. These spell out the responsibilities of government departments and citizens in the response to AIDS, enunciate the rights of people living with HIV and their relatives, and prohibit stigma and discrimination. During the year, a joint programme on AIDS was finalized to bring together the efforts of all UN agencies in one framework, in line with the National Five Year Plan and AIDS Regulations. Other notable UN achievements in 2006 included mobilization of additional Global Fund resources to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, strengthened involvement of civil society in China in the response to AIDS, and support to the development of the National Stop TB Plan 2006-2010, which will inter alia address multi-drug resistance, where China has an estimated 30% of global cases.

Outcome Area 5: Within the framework of international norms, conventions, and standards and of the Global Compact, China’s role in the international arena is enhanced, including through providing increased levels of south-south cooperation

The UN continues to help build China’s capacity to implement international conventions. A new programme was developed to support implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and we supported the publication of reports on greenhouse gas emissions, in compliance with the Framework Convention on Climate Change. We also supported implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and a 19 Ministry review of the conclusions of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The promotion of international partnerships has been another priority. During 2006, we contributed to the establishment of the China-Africa Business Council; the visit of a large private sector delegation to Africa; a private sector segment at the China-Africa Summit; and to a high-level seminar on China-Africa partnership in the 21st century. We also supported the first Silk Road Investment and Mayors’ Forums, co-sponsored the NorthEast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum; gained commitment from Greater Tumen Initiative member states, reaching broad agreement on the establishment of a Business Advisory Council; and began planning for a Greater Mekong (China – Vietnam – Laos) cross-border economic zone.

South-South co-operation has also increased. The International Poverty Reduction Centre in China has been established with our support. The UN has contributed to the fielding of over 300 Chinese specialists overseas under the Special Programme for Food Security, the initial planning of technical co-operation in agricultural and rural development with Africa through NEPAD, and an agreement to send over 3,000 Chinese agricultural experts overseas in the next six years. In addition, 80 Chinese companies have been trained on Global Compact reporting.

Summary on progress in UN Reform

Our architecture for UN coordination bedded down well in 2006. Our Theme Groups have made good progress in 2006, both in information sharing and overseeing work in their Outcome Areas, and in the development of joint programmes, activities and advocacy. The Resident Coordinator Office was also strengthened in 2006, with the appointment of a national and international officer, and a network facilitator who will redevelop our intranet and external website. We also produced a new public brochure on the UN Partnership in China.

On operational coordination, the relevant ExComm agencies have all rolled out HACT and FACE training, and are poised to move to implementation once our CPAPs are signed in the near future. We are continuing to work on plans to consolidate our presence in Beijing into fewer compounds, and are considering establishing joint sub-offices in some key provinces. A continuing issue is that of direct recruitment of Chinese nationals in UN agencies in China. After long negotiations, we are now very close to an agreement.

Key aspects of the proposed 2007 workplan

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